Abkhazian and Ossetian Nationalism as a Base of Separatism

Abstract

Nationalism is one of the main reasons for separatism, and in many cases, it is the leading cause of this phenomenon. After Russia actively started supporting Abkhazian and Ossetian separatism in Georgia and eventually even recognized the independence of these so-called "states," a perception was created that Russia was almost the sole driving force behind both conflicts in Georgia Abkhazian and Ossetian political leaders were only acting on Russian directives. The roots of those conflicts are more profound, and they were inevitable since there was irreconcilable opposition between Georgian national ideas on the one hand and the Abkhazian and Ossetian national ideas on the other. Russian politics' influence and support on the formation of Abkhazian and Ossetian national ideas and Abkhazian and Ossetian nationalism is generally significant. However, it would be wrong to only focus on Russian factors. One thing that can be said for sure is that the establishment and encouragement of Abkhazian and Ossetian nationalism by Russia serves imperial interests and represents a weapon against Georgian nationalism, which has its explanation. Among the peoples of the Russian empire, Georgians and Polish were the only ones who had their statehood at a time when they became part of Russia. Therefore, for them, Russia was a conqueror and a claimer of the state (in the case of Georgia and also Religious) independence. In such cases, the goal of the people is to restore the lost independence, and their nationalism also serves this purpose. Russia would not allow this and, with other methods, would also try to incite ethnic "strife" and encourage nationalistic attitudes against "dangerous and unreliable "people by some other smaller peoples and itself would appear as their protector and savior. In order to achieve this goal, it was necessary to support the formation and development of nationalism of various minorities living in the territory of "unreliable people. " In the case of Georgia, Abkhazians and Ossetians represented such tiny peoples. Abkhazians were declared "guilty people" by the empire for fighting against Russia during the Caucasus wars, more than half of them were sent to Turkey, and the rest were banned from living along the coast, and several restrictions were imposed on them. Since the beginning of the XX century, Russia drastically changed its policy towards Abkhazians and not only removed all restrictions but contributed in every way to the development of Abkhazian national self-consciousness, the creation of the alphabet, and the establishment of Abkhazian intelligentsia. It did not happen due to caring for Abkhazians, but to prevent their "Georgianization," they became as alienized as possible from Georgians and got into a conflict with them. The perception was established that Abkhazians do not have anything in common with Georgia, that it was a country of ancient history and culture, and during the Soviet period, it was being outlined that the Soviet Republic of Abkhazia's status had been specially demoted to the status of the autonomous republic and was illegally turned into part of Georgia and Abkhazian children were raised with this belief. As for Abkhazian intelligentsia, it was cut isolated from the Georgian sphere. Abkhazians used some of the mistakes of the Georgian central government. They raised the alarm that Georgian demographic expansion was taking place in Abkhazia, schools and the alphabet was attempted to be analyzed, and the existence of Abkhazian ethnos was in danger. In a word, the image of Georgian as an enemy was formed. Georgian national vision that Abkhazia is one of Georgia's regions, and Abkhazian vision that Abkhazia and Georgia are different countries have found themselves in irreconcilable conflict. Conflict is inevitable in a situation like this, and when the conditions for it were created, it happened. Ossetian nationalism did not have the same support from Russia as the Abkhazian. Ossetians do not deny that they migrated to Georgia from the north Caucasus. Therefore, their historical homeland is across the Caucasus. Their official status was also "Khizani "(refugee). At the beginning of the XX century, Russia seems to have concluded that the Ossetians could also be used against Georgian nationalism and removed the status of "khizani. " Ossetians turned into ordinary peasants, who obeyed the emperor, and the lands owned by Georgian nobles, where they settled as 'khizani', became their property. With this step, Russia increased the number of loyal citizens, for whom Russia was a protector and the Georgians were their rivals. This explains that among people living in Georgia, Ossetians most strongly opposed the creation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia and organized three uprisings led by the Bolsheviks. After the Sovietization of Georgia, the Soviet government appreciated them and created administrative-territorial autonomy for Ossetians in the heart of Georgia, within completely artificial borders. Most importantly, this autonomy was given a previously unknown name – South Ossetia. Thus, a large part of Shida Kartli became Ossetia with one stroke of the hand. After this, Ossetians living in the area thought they lived in Ossetia. On the other hand, Ossetia has been illegally divided between North Ossetia (as part of Russia) and South Ossetia (as part of Georgia). Therefore, Ossetians became a divided nation, and by their belief, as a divided nation, they have the full right to be reunited, with North and South uniting under the United Ossetian Republic as part of the Russian Federation. This type of national vision was contrary to the Georgian national vision, according to which the existence of Ossetia in the south of the Caucasus mountains is inconceivable. Thus this illegal autonomy had to be abolished. Such incompatibility between Georgian and Ossetian national ideas would inevitably lead to conflict, and it did. As we can see, Abkhazian and Ossetian separatisms have a substantial basis in the form of Abkhazian and Ossetian nationalism. Therefore, even without Russian support for separatists, this nationalism will be a severe obstacle to resolving these conflicts and restoring Georgia's territorial integrity.