Georgian President: destruction of national gallery in occupied Abkhazia due to “neglect” by de facto authorities, Russia
Calling the destruction of nearly the entire vault of artwork in the gallery on Sunday a “tragedy”, Zourabichvili made calls to the international community. Photo: President press office
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Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Monday reacted to a fire in National Gallery in the capital city of Sokhumi in the country’s Russian-occupied north-western Abkhazia region by placing the blame on “neglect” of cultural heritage in the region by the de facto authorities and Russian occupation forces.
Calling the destruction of nearly the entire vault of artwork in the gallery on Sunday a “tragedy”, Zourabichvili called on the international community to draw attention to the protection of Georgian cultural heritage in the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.
The fire that destroyed Sokhumi’s National Gallery in occupied #Abkhazia is a tragedy for us all. I deplore what is a direct consequence of the neglect of cultural identity both by the de facto leadership and the Russian occupants
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) January 22, 2024
Only about 150 out of 4,000 artworks survived the fire at the venue, the de facto authorities said on Monday.
The gallery was established in 1963 by the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, at the time of the central Georgian Government's sovereignty over the region under the Soviet Union.
I call on the international community to revive its attention to the protection of our cultural heritage in the occupied territories
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) January 22, 2024
Russia recognised the two Georgian regions of Georgia as independent states after its 2008 war with Georgia.
Only Venezuela, Nikaragua, Nauru and Syria have joined the stance so far, while the rest of the international community urges Moscow to withdraw its troops from Georgian territory.
The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia on Friday reaffirmed its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity following the illegal move by de facto authorities in the country’s occupied north-western Abkhazia region to transfer land to Russia this week.
Sheraz Gasri, the French Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday reaffirmed her Government's support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity following the illegal move by de facto authorities in the country’s occupied north-western Abkhazia region to transfer land to Russia this week.
Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Defence and Security Committee, on Wednesday said a “growing” international pressure must be applied on Russia to end its occupation of the country’s regions.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the ratification of the transfer to Russia of Bichvinta holiday retreat in the country’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region by the de facto parliament of the regime as “another illegal act” recorded as part of the occupation.
The Georgian National Museum on Tuesday expressed its readiness to contribute to the restoration of exhibits damaged by the recent fire in the National Gallery in Sokhumi, the capital of the country’s north-western, Russian-occupied Abkhazia region.