World
Abaza
Congress

The patriotic event "Афырхацәа рымҩала" took place, with the ascent of the Damkhurts Pass as its key stage. The route started in Gudauta and took three days.

The goal of the event was to honor the memory of the volunteers of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia and to strengthen patriotic traditions.

The event was organized by Roman Tsugba, commander of the 6th Rifle Brigade, with the support of the Ministry of Defense, the World Abaza Congress, and local residents. Seventeen people, aged 12 to 55, participated in the route.

The World Abaza Congress team laid flowers at the memorial to the fallen in the Park of Glory.

August 14 is the Defenders of the Fatherland Remembrance Day. On this day in 1992, Georgian troops invaded Abkhazia. The Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia began, lasting 413 days and claiming the lives of approximately 3,000 soldiers.

Our guest at "Гәыкала" is Said Dzhonua, co-organizer of genetic research and participant of the AA DNA project. This independent research project is dedicated to studying the genetic history of the Abkhaz-Adyg peoples using DNA testing.

We will talk about how modern technology allows us to look back a hundred years and discover a common root among Abkhazian, Abaza, Adyg, and Kabardian surnames. We'll also discuss what science says about family legends: where legends are confirmed, and where history turns out to be quite different.

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.

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.  

https://abaza.org/en/1306

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.

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 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.

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.

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.