WAC event feed
Congress team laid flowers at the monument to Taras Shamba.
The Congress team took part in a flower-laying ceremony at the monument to public and political figure, Honorary President of the WAC, Taras Shamba.
Taras Shamba led the World Congress of the Abkhaz-Abaza People for over 25 years and played a key role in uniting representatives of the Diaspora worldwide.
Today would have been his 88th birthday.
Caucasian Flavor, Sports, and Unity: how the 11th Abaza Festival went
The "Abaza" Cultural and Sports Festival is an event that unites tradition and modernity, reflecting the unity of the Abkhaz-Abaza people. Symbolically, the festival begins on July 23, the day the national flag of Abkhazia was approved.
Abkhazia Day was celebrated in St. Petersburg.
On July 21, Abkhazia Day was celebrated in St. Petersburg as part of the Lermontov Fest 2026 festival.
Abzagu Tsvizhba, Chief of Staff of the World Abaza Congress, read a welcoming address from Mussa Khabalevich Ekzekov, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the World Abaza Congress, which says, in part:
"I warmly welcome you here in the library named after Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov, a poet whose work connected Russian culture with the Caucasus. Today's meeting is an opportunity to touch the centuries-old history of Abkhazia, hear the voice of its culture, and feel the warmth of its people... Abkhazia and Russia are bound by strong historical, spiritual, and human ties. These ties have been forged over generations – through joint work, mutual support, shared memory, and a sincere desire to be close. I thank the library staff, the organizers, and all program participants for their attention to Abkhazia and for creating a space for dialogue. May this day become another important step in strengthening the friendship between the peoples of Russia and Abkhazia."
The event included the laying of flowers and a wreath at the monument to Prince Peter Georgievich of Oldenburg, an exhibition on the History and Culture of Abkhazia, and an introduction to Abkhazian national cuisine, traditional drinks, and household items.
The guests of honor at the celebration included Sergey Nikolaevich Baburin, Rauf Tarkhunovich Ayba, representatives of the Abkhazian Diaspora, and guests from Abkhazia and various regions of Russia.
The event marked an important step in strengthening cultural ties and friendship between the peoples of Russia and Abkhazia.
History in Detail: Abkhazian Drama Theater launches tours of its new exhibition hall
The Abkhazian Drama Theater has opened a hall displaying a collection of the theater's historical heritage: archival photographs, scripts, sketches, posters, costumes and more.
The hall will be open during performances and is also available for tours, which take place at the theater three times a week.
The second stream of the "Akhyshtrakh" camp got a taste of Abkhazia's theatrical arts.
The State Repatriation Committee, together with the WAC, organized a tour at the S. Chanba Abkhazian State Drama Theater for the second cohort of participants in the "Akhyshtrakh -2026" educational camp.
Actress Eleonora Kogoniia led the children on a fascinating tour, introducing them to the history of this national cultural symbol. The young compatriots visited the auditorium and stage and asked questions about the theater's life.
As a reminder, the main goal of the camp is to introduce young people to the history, culture, language, and traditions of Abkhazia, as well as to strengthen ties with their historical homeland.
Unifying classics: how "King Lear" sparked heated debate
The World Abaza Congress, together with the Abkhazian Theater, held another meeting of the Discussion Club. The discussion began immediately after the performance of the "King Lear," based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name. The discussion was moderated by the director of the play, Adgur Kove.
The dialogue was incredibly dynamic, sincere, and emotional. The evening's guests enthusiastically analyzed complex artistic images, searched for hidden symbolic meanings in the set design, and debated the relevance of Shakespearean plots in the 21st century. The event proved that theater is the perfect place for dialogue and reflection on important ideas.
Film about the “Grand Canyon” shopping mall
We present to you a film by the AGTRK dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the “Grand Canyon” Development Area. In a conversation with the area's founder, philanthropist, and Chairman of the Supreme Council of the WAC, Mussa Ekzekov, we will trace the project's journey from its first steps to becoming a significant cultural and educational center.
Chkhortol School receives Sports Equipment
As part of its collaboration with local branches, the World Abaza Congress provided targeted assistance to the Chkhortol School. Students received equipment for physical training and tennis.
A monument to a native of Abkhazia was unveiled in the Leningrad Region
Staff members of the World Abaza Congress took part in the unveiling ceremony of a monument to Tarba Khimtsa Gudzhovich, a WWII hero and second lieutenant of the 3rd Marine Brigade of the Baltic Fleet, a native of Abkhazia.
The event took place on May 25 in the courtyard of a school in the village of Michurinskoye in the Priozersk District of the Leningrad Region. The honor of unveiling the monument was given to the head of the district administration, Aleksandr Soklakov, and Tengiz Tarba, a representative of the Tarba family.
The ceremony's guests of honor included the hero's family and friends, Oleg Bartsits, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia, as well as representatives of the Abkhazian community and the "Apsny" cultural and educational society.
During the event, students from the Michurinsk School recited poems dedicated to the memory of war veterans. The gathered people then laid flowers at the foot of the monument - a sign of respect for the hero's heroic deed. After the official ceremony, the school principal gave the guests a tour of the school, including a visit to the museum and classrooms.
Development through Culture: Mussa Ekzekov at the St. Petersburg Ethnoforum
From May 20 to 22, the St. Petersburg Ethnoforum, a major scientific and practical event dedicated to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of the Russian Federation, was held in Russia's northern capital.
The Ethnoforum was organized by the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the St. Petersburg Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Particular attention was drawn to the speech by Mussa Ekzekov, philanthropist, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the WAC, and President of the "Alashara" Association, who shared his experience of implementing ethnoprojects in remote communities.
"It was a great honor for me to share the experience of the team working on the preservation and development of the Abaza people. The participants demonstrated through their own example that culture is a living force that helps people grow, unites them, and changes their attitudes toward family, their native village, their people and country," noted Mussa Ekzekov.
In his speech, he described how ethnic projects can become a genuine tool for territorial development - when residents themselves participate in creating programs, propose ideas, and take responsibility for the results, they develop a sense of ownership.
Information was presented on the results of "Alashara's" work in Karachay-Cherkessia - sports, educational, cultural, youth, and language projects implemented. It was emphasized that behind all the figures and events lies the most important thing - people who believed in themselves and became active participants in a common cause.
"I am confident that our method is applicable in any part of Russia, in any territory. We are demonstrating this in St. Petersburg, realizing cultural and social projects in the Grand Canyon development area. This method has been successfully implemented for many years by the World Abaza Congress," Musa Ekzekov emphasized.
Concluding his speech, he thanked the organizers of the St. Petersburg Ethnoforum and personally Academician Andrey Ivanovich Rudskoy, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Andrey Golovnev, Director of the Kunstkamera, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
During the forum's opening ceremony, a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding "On Cooperation between the St. Petersburg Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences of Abkhazia" took place.
The Ethnoforum attracted a large audience - cultural workers, scholars, politicians, businesspeople, leaders and activists of ethnic communities, artists, and traditional craftsmen. Numerous events were held during the forum, focusing on the most important topics: people, traditions, values, and the future of Russia.
