Abkhazian students bypass separatist obstacles to join Georgian universities

More than 80 students from Georgia’s occupied region of Abkhazia have been accepted at Georgian universities for the new academic year despite prohibitions by the breakaway region’s authorities.

The entrants have opted to join the universities despite limitations imposed by Abkhazian authorities in an attempt to dissuade them from pursuing higher education in Georgia, Gali District Education Resource Centre head Nona Shonia told Interpressnewson Tuesday, September 15.

Shonia said 86 pupils had been accepted at universities in Georgia for the 2015-16 academic year that commenced on Monday.

The state limitations they faced in Abkhazia included non-recognition of diplomas awarded in Georgian high schools and prevention of graduates from obtaining employment after their return to Abkhazia.

"The goal of Abkhazia’s separatist government is to make these young people stay [in the region] and continue their studies at the University of Sokhumi or at a Russian Federation high school, however the human rights declaration includes a right for every parent to make an independent decision on their child’s education,” Shonia said.

The Abkhazian young people seeking university enrolment in Georgia managed to avoid the de facto government limitations by not disclosing the reason why they crossed the de facto border into Georgian-controlled territory.

The Georgian Government is fully subsidising Bachelor level studies for students from Abkhazia at Georgian universities. Most of these students have graduated from Gali district primary schools on the Abkhazian-controlled side of the de facto boundary between the breakaway republic and Georgia.