John Colarusso sent condolences in connection with the first President Vladislav Ardzinba's Death
March 11, 2010
The pictorial memorial to Ardzinba was very touching.
It was a great privilege for me to have known him, both before he became president of Abkhazia and during his tenure in office.
He
was a brave and strong man, who was also friendly and highly
intelligent. He had "the common touch," as we say in English: I first
met him in London at a conference in 1990. He and I, along with Slava
Chirikba and another Abkhazian, stayed up into the night drinking and,
as linguists will sometimes do, we exchanged tongue twisters and
laughed until sleep overtook us. He was at that time a member of the
Duma, having left his linguistics career for politics.
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Within two years he would be President
of Abkhazia and face the crisis of war. By strength of will and
brilliant leadership he saved the Abkhazian nation from annihilation.
He gave his life for his people as surely as if he had died on the
battlefield.
He was a true hero. He will never be forgotten. His
name will be linked to that of his beloved homeland as long as there
are Abkhazians in this world.
When next I eat, I shall offer a toast to his memory. So should we all!
John Colarrusso, Professor, Department of Anthropology, and Department of Linguistics and Languages, McMaster University, Canada
Lord Everberry sent condolences in connection with the first President Vladislav Ardzinba's Death
March 8, 2010
Condolences in connection with the
death of First President Vladislav Ardzinba were sent by Lord Everberry
(London, Great Britain).
"I was very much grieved by the news
about Vladislav Ardzinba's death, and I would like to give my heartfelt
condolences to his family”, Lord Everberry’s condolences say.
''Friends of Abkhazia'' in Estonia condole with the people of Abkhazia in connection with Ardzinba's Death
March 8, 2010
Apsnypress
received a telegram of condolences from Estonia signed by Kalmer Saar
in connection with the death of the National Hero Vladislav Ardzinba.
"On
behalf of all friends of Abkhazia in Estonia accept our most sincere
condolences to the Abkhaz nation in connection with the death of First
President Vladislav Ardzinba”, the telegram says.
Abkhaz Diaspora Representatives published obituary notices about Ardzinba's death in Turkish Newspapers
March 8, 2010
Representatives of the Abkhaz Diaspora
in Turkey ("Friends of Abkhazia”) published condolences in connection
with the death of the First President of Abkhazia Vladislav
Grigorievich Ardzinba in "The Radikal”:
"We will never forget
the brave son of the Caucasus, the founder and the First President of
the Republic of Abkhazia, our leader and the hero. He will always live
in our hearts”, the condolence made on behalf of "Friends of Abkhazia”
reads.
The Caucasian Federation (Ankara) and the Caucasian
Businessmen Association published the obituary notice about V. G.
Ardzinba's death in "The Hurriyet”.
Chairman of Turkish Republican People's Party Deniz Baykal deeply shaken by Ardzinba's death
March 8, 2010
The Chairman of the Republican People’s
Party of Turkey Deniz Baykal is deeply shaken by the news about the
death of the First President of Abkhazia, the National Hero Vladislav
Ardzinba, says the telegram Baykal sent the President of Abkhazia
Sergey Bagapsh.
According to Baykal, "Vladislav Ardzinba will
forever remains in the people’s memory, he has a special place on the
pages of Abkhaz history forever”.
"I grieve together with you. I
ask you to give my deepest condolences to Vladislav Ardzinba's family”,
the Chairman of the Republican People’s Party of Turkey Deniz Baykal’s
telegram says.
Irfan Argun sent condolences in connection with Ardzimba's death
March 8, 2010
The head of the
Istanbul Committee of Solidarity with Abkhazia Irfan Argun sent the
President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh a telegram of condolences in
connection with the death of the First President, the Hero of Abkhazia
Vladislav Ardzinba.
"All of us were shaken by this terrible
news about the death of a great son of the Abkhaz nation Vladislav
Ardzinba who had loved the country and the people dearly”, the telegram
reads.
According to Irfan Argun, there are no words to
describe the grief the Abkhaz and the entire Caucasus Diaspora living
in the Turkish Republic feels in connection with Ardzinba’s death.
"All
of us, sharing the grief which has befallen our historical Motherland,
hope at the same time that Abkhazia will continue the way begun by
Vladislav Ardzinba”, the telegram says.
Irfan Argun expressed the deepest condolences to Vladislav Ardzinba's family and the entire Abkhaz nation.
Western European Countries' Abkhaz-Abazin Diaspora Expresses deep condolences to Abkhaz people, Ardzinba's family
March 5, 2010
The Abkhaz-Abazin Diaspora of Western
European countries expresses deep condolences to the people of
Abkhazia, Vladislav Grigorevich Ardzinba's family in connection with
his sudden death.
"It is an irreplaceable loss for each
representative of our nation, for all those whom our history is dear
to. The personality of the First President of Abkhazia - a leader, a
fighter for independence, a great politician, a well-known scientist -
is an example of ardent patriotism and selfless service to the people”,
the Abkhaz-Abazin Diaspora of Western European counties' condolences
read.
Kabardino-Balkaria's head expressed condolences in connection with the first President of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba's death
March 5, 2010
The head of Kabardino-Balkaria Arsen
Kanokov sent a telegram with the words of condolence to the President
of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh in connection with the death of the first
President of the Republic of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba.
"A
true son of the Abkhaz nation, a prominent statesman and politician who
has contributed invaluably into achievement of state independence by
the Republic of Abkhazia, into strengthening of friendship and
brotherhood between our nations has died", the telegram says. Kanokov
expressed "sincere condolences in connection with this bereavement" on
behalf of the Parliament and the Government, all people of the
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, from himself personally. "I ask you to
give our condolences to the family of the dead", the telegram also
reads.
Transdiestria's President
expressed condolences to Sergey Bagapsh in connection with the first
President Vladislav Ardzinba's death
March 5, 2010
The leader of
Transdniestria Igor Smirnov expressed condolences to the head of the
Abkhaz state Sergey Bagapsh in connection with the death of the first
President of the republic Vladislav Ardzinba who died in Moscow aged
64, the press-service for the Transdniestria's leader said Thursday.
"Pridnestrovians
sympathise and empathize with the grief which has befallen the entire
Abkhaz nation, Vladislav Grigorevich's family", Smirnov's telegram says.
The
leader of Transdniestria believes that "formation and development of
the statehood of the Republic of Abkhazia will be always related to
Vladislav Grigorevich Ardzinba's name".
NKR President expressed condolences to Sergei Bagapsh
March 5, 2010
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President
Bako Sahakyan sent a condolence letter to his Abkhazian counterpart
Sergei Bagapsh for death of country’s first president Vladislav
Ardzinba.
"Abkhazia and its people suffered a great loss with the death of the first Abkhazian President Vladislav Ardzinba.
Ardzinba was one of the originators of
the national-liberation movement of Abkhazia and headed the republic at
a most crucial period of its history. Under his governance, Abkhazia
overcame all the hardships with dignity, embarked firmly on the path of
further strengthening of its statehood.
Ardzinba is widely known far beyond Abkhazia. He enjoyed deep respect and warm feeling in Artsakh.
On the behalf of the people and the
authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic I express my condolences and
support to You and to the fraternal people of Abkhazia in connection
with this irretrievable loss,” reads the letter, Central Information
Department at NKR President Office informed.
Dimitry Medvedev Expressed
condolences to President Sergey Bagapsh and the people of Abkhazia in
connection with Vladislav Ardzinba's passing
March 4, 2010
Today Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
expressed condolences in connection with the passing of the First
President of the Republic of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba.
D.
Medvedev had a telephone conversation with the President of Abkhazia S.
Bagapsh. He pointed out that today is marked by the mourning news of
Vladislav Grigorievich’s passing.
Russian President expressed sincere and heartfelt condolences to Sergey Bagapsh and the people of Abkhazia.
'Condolences on the death of Vladislav Ardzinba, First President of Abkhazia' - Luba Mohydeen I. Quandour
March 4, 2010
Today, Luba and I heard of the loss of
Vladislav Ardzinba in Moscow. The nation of Abkhazia and the entire
Caucasian peoples lost a great son today. He was a scholar, a wise
politician and a remarkable human being. His research work enriched the
Adyghe/Abkhazian history through fundemental discoveries and imposed it
into world history. His uncompromising love and great dedication to his
nation is enshrined in Adyhge/Abkhazian history. His name will forever
remain in the memory of our nation as a true son.
We lament in
common with all Abkhazians and we want to express our heartfelt
condolences to his wife, his daughter and to all members of his family.
Vladislav Ardzinba, First Abkhazia President Passes Away - UNPO
March 4, 2010
It is with great sadness that news has
reached us of the loss of a great leader, Vladislav Ardzinba, the first
leader of Abkhazia.
After a long struggle with cancer,
Vladislav Ardzinba died at 64 years of age. On behalf of all UNPO
Members, UNPO General Secretary Marino Busdachin expresses his deepest
condolences to the families, relatives and colleagues of Vladislav
Ardzinba.
Below follows an obituary of Vladislav Ardzinba (14 May 1945 – 4 March 2010)
Vladislav Ardzinba was an Abkhaz politician and the first president of Republic of Abkhazia.
Born
in the village of Lower Eshera in the Sukhum District, he graduated
from the Sukhum Pedagogical Institute’s Historical Department and
received a doctorate degree at Tbilisi State University. In 1987, after
18 years of working experience in Moscow, he returned to Sukhum as
Director of the Abkhazian Institute of Language, Literature and
History. Furthermore, he was also elected Deputy to the Supreme Soviet
of the Soviet Union.
On December 4th, 1990, Vladislav
Ardzinba was elected Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Abkhazia. He was
elected president by the Abkhazian parliament in 1994 and won the first
direct polls on October 3rd, 1999, where he was re-elected as the
president of Abkhazia. Under his leadership, Abkhazia tried to
strengthen the economy, create links with the international community
and promote the rightful self-determination of the people of Abkhazia.
In 2003 his health seriously deteriorated and as a consequence was
forced to resign the presidency of Abkhazia in 2004.
Vladislav Ardzinba dedicated his life
to the struggle of Abkhazia for self-determination and freedom and
passed away on Thursday, 4th March 2010 after a longstanding battle
with cancer in Moscow’s Central Clinical Hospital.
Condolences on the death of Vladislav Ardzinba, First President of Abkhazia - Zaira and George Hewitt (UK)
March 4, 2010
It was with a great sense of loss that
Zaira and I learnt today of the sad, if not altogether unexpected,
death of Vladislav Ardzinba in Moscow at the age of 64.
Vladislav Ardzinba holds a unique place
in the history of Abkhazia. Having come to prominence in his homeland
as an academic (specialising in Hittite), he took over from Prof.
Georgij Dzidzarija as Director of the Research Institute. Quickly he
found himself involved in politics when elected to Mikhail Gorbachëv's
new Palace of People's Deputies, where he achieved national prominence
across the entire Soviet Union for his eloquent articulation of the
problems facing that vast state's ethnic minorities and their hopes for
the future. He was naturally most concerned to achieve justice for his
own Abkhazian nation, and in the turbulent days when the USSR was
heading for disintegration and an ugly chauvinism was on the rise in
Georgia,this speedily put Abkhazia on a collision-course with Tbilisi.
When Vladislav assumed the chairmanship of the Supreme Soviet, he
became the focus of verbal attacks from Georgian nationalists, attacks
which continued to the day of his death, when in some early
obituary-announcements it was libellously stated that he 'orchestrated
a massive ethnic cleansing campaign'.
It fell to Vladislav to lead the
defence of Abkhazia when it was treacherously invaded by the troops of
Georgia's State Council under the chairmanship of Eduard Shevardnadze
on that day of infamy, the 14 August 1992. After 14 tragic months,
Abkhazia was finally liberated on 30 September 1993. And under
Vladislav's leadership, then still based in its wartime home of
Gudauta, a leaflet was prepared for distibution in the areas that had
been under Georgian occupation during the war urging Abkhazians there
to show magnanimity and not to engage in acts of vengeance against
either Georgian soldiers laying down their arms or members of the
civilian population. But the Caucasus is the Caucasus, and in those
days of panic and rumour the majority of the local Mingrelians,
Georgians and Svans elected to leave south-eastern Abkhazia before the
arrival of the victors. Abkhazia then found itself subjected to years
of embargo, as the world tried to punish it for having had the audacity
to defeat Shevardnadze's Georgia. And it was Vladislav's destiny to
steer a difficult course during those years of pressure in order to
prevent the restarting of hostilities with Georgia, to avoid making
concessions in the internationally sponsored negotiating process that
would be unacceptable to the Abkhazian people, and to avoid causing
excessive annoyance to Moscow, which most commentators now conveniently
forget was by no means well-disposed to Abkhazian aspirations under the
presidency of Boris Yeltsin and Shevardnadze's protegé as Russian
Foreign Minister Andrej Kozyrev; the same was true under Kozyrev's
successor, Tbilisi-reared Evgenij Primakov, who had once been
Vladislav's superior in the days when they both worked at Moscow's
Oriental Institute. In 1994 Vladislav supervised the promulgation of a
new Constitution for Abkhazia and became its first president. Read more...
A politician from the category of "inconvenient” - Alexander Krylov
March 4, 2010
This morning it was announced that VG Ardzinba died in Moscow on 65 th year of life in the Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow.
V. Ardzinba worked at the Institute of
Oriental Studies, USSR Academy of Sciences, for many years. He was an
excellent scholar, a specialist in the Hatti (the oldest population in
Minor Asia), whose language he argued to be common with the
Abkhaz-Adyghe language-family. He wrote an excellent monograph, "The
rituals and myths of ancient Anatolia”, which later was defended as his
doctoral dissertation.
V. Ardzinba was never a careerist. In
Soviet times, he was occupied with cuneiform and proto-Hittite — hardly
the choice of a careerist. Vladislav Grigoryevich was man of science,
but fate literally pushed him into politics. And that he turned out to
be worthy of his historical role was a hugely fortunate for the
Abkhazians. V. Ardzinba was a politician from God, the leader of the
nation at its most tragic of times.
He was not a typical politician – too
soft and intelligent, but in a critical situation for the sake of
national interests capable of the most decisive measures.
He was also a politician from the
"inconvenient” category. In 1994 he did not conceal his negative
attitude towards Russia’s policy in Chechnya, considering the beginning
of the first Chechen war a monumental mistake, and he offered the
Kremlin to mediate in deciding the problem by entirely different means.
But in those years of Yeltsin’s leadership such disagreement was not
deemed to be acceptable. The Kremlin was so angry that Yeltsin gave the
order to block the border of Abkhazia, and the blockade lasted for
several years. Today, the correctness of V. G. Ardzinba’s stance is
obvious to all.
The circumstances of his illness are
still not clear. In 1997, he flew to Tbilisi for negotiations; I saw
him in Pitsunda immediately thereafter and, remembering how in 1936 at
the home of Beria the Abkhaz leader, Nestor Lakoba, was poisoned, made
the wholly bad joke : "Vladislav, I hope you didn’t eat anything there,
did you?” In response, Ardzinba could only shrug it off with a joyless
sigh.
Shortly after his visit to Tbilisi, he
started having problems with his health. It is this that gives grounds
for the suspicion that he was poisoned. By the way, the head of his
body-guard, who also travelled to Tbilisi, suddenly died soon after
this trip. Read more... |