Circassian organizations in Turkey joined the campaign for the de-isolation of Abkhazia.

Circassian and Abkhaz organizations in Turkey supported the campaign to lift the transport isolation of Abkhazia, but assessed its ultimate goal differently, including recognition of independence. Analysts from Turkey called the diaspora's demands primarily humanitarian, while official Ankara still advocates for the territorial integrity of Georgia.

Turkish activists demanded to open communication with Abkhazia

A joint statement in support of the de-isolation of Abkhazia was announced on August 5 at a press conference in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The general text was read by a deputy from the Turkish Workers' Party (TİP) Ahmet Shık.

The statement said that there is a large community of Abkhaz origin living in Turkey, and residents of Abkhazia have faced restrictions when traveling to Turkey for decades. The authors of the appeal demanded that Abkhaz passports be accepted at the Turkish border as valid identification and travel documents, and that direct sea and air communication between Turkey and Abkhazia be opened immediately.

However, the demand for diplomatic recognition of Abkhazia's independence was not included in the joint statement.

According to a report from the Turkish parliament on August 5, along with Shık, the press conference was attended by the chairman of the Yeni Yol parliamentary group Mehmet Emin Ekmen, deputy chairman of the group Selçuk Özdağ, deputies of Yeni Yol Elif Esen and İdris Şahin, deputy of Yeni Parti Okan Konuralp, deputies of DEM Parti Özgül Saki and Perihan Koca Doğan, as well as deputy of the Labor Party (EMEP) İskender Bayhan. The newspaper Jineps also reported the participation of representatives from Saadet Partisi.

No separate parliamentary document with the signatures of the initiative's participants has been formalized, judging by the available materials. It is a joint statement for the press that Ahmet Shık read during the press conference. The official website of the parliament published a message about the event and the main points of the appeal, and the full text of the statement was published on August 5 by, among others, the newspaper Jineps and the portal T24, reported the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot."

The call was supported by deputies from ten opposition parties, which together hold 206 mandates, or about 34% of the seats in parliament. However, neither the official release from the Grand National Assembly nor the publications from Turkish media, which covered the press conference in detail, contain a complete list of the ten parties or the signatures of their representatives, reported Kommersant on August 11.

In Abkhazia, the initiative of Turkish deputies was supported

The initiative of Turkish deputies received support from the authorities, political, and public organizations of Abkhazia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia stated that it is monitoring the discussion in Turkey regarding the recognition of Abkhaz passports and the opening of maritime communication and views the emergence of this topic not as a result of the current political conjuncture, but as a consequence of "the real needs of people living in difficult conditions."

"Recognition of our state's documents is for us part of the most important goal of achieving broader international recognition and establishing full-fledged economic, humanitarian, and cultural ties with other states. Therefore, we evaluate every step that contributes to achieving this goal extremely positively," the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia said.

The initiative was also supported by the Public Chamber of Abkhazia, which called the very emergence of the issue at the parliamentary level in Ankara a significant event regardless of its final outcome. They stated that the priority is international recognition of Abkhazia and recognition of its travel documents.

Abkhaz political parties and movements also supported the campaign, including Apsni, Akzaara, Aruaa, And, and "Modern State," while public movements called on diaspora organizations to set aside internal disagreements and unite around a common goal.

The chairman of the Supreme Council of the World Abkhaz-Abazin Congress Mussa Ekzek also welcomed the initiative, emphasizing its humanitarian component. According to him, practical steps to eliminate barriers between people should be viewed primarily from the perspective of restoring basic human rights, rather than politics.

The organizers named the ultimate goal of the initiative as the recognition of Abkhazia

The campaign, in which its participants proposed an initiative in the Turkish parliament, became noticeable in the summer of 2026. One of its main organizers is a lawyer of Abkhaz origin Anyt Baba (Papba), living in Ankara, specializing in migration law and previously working in Abkhazia.

In an interview with the Circassian newspaper Jineps, published on July 10, Baba stated that the initiative is a joint project of like-minded individuals from Turkey and Abkhazia. He listed among its tasks the recognition of Abkhaz documents, direct transport communication, the creation of a friendship group in parliament with Abkhazia, attracting journalists, lawyers, public organizations, and cultural figures.

The organizers also planned public actions in Turkish cities and a symbolic trip from Sukhumi to Istanbul, where participants would attempt to pass Turkish border control with Abkhaz passports.

At the same time, Baba clearly stated the long-term political goal of the campaign: "the ultimate goal, of course, [is] the recognition of Abkhazia," he said.

Even before the parliamentary action, the initiative was publicly supported by the Labor Party of Turkey. On July 4, its head Seiit Aslan called for an end to the isolation of Abkhazia and expressed support for the demand for its recognition.

The correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" sent Anyt Baba questions about the reasons why the demand for the recognition of Abkhazia was not included in the joint statement, as well as about the participants and funding of the campaign, but at the time of publication, no answers had been received.

The Abkhaz issue has been discussed by Circassian organizations for a long time

The Abkhaz theme appeared in the contacts of Turkish parties with organizations of the North Caucasian diaspora long before the current campaign.

In April 2023, a delegation from TİP led by Anyt Baba visited the Federation of Caucasian Associations of Turkey (KAFFED), a pro-Russian centralized structure of several dozen Circassian organizations of the Turkish diaspora.

The Federation of Caucasian Associations of Turkey reported that party representatives handed a letter to the federation's leadership with their positions on issues of interest to the North Caucasian diaspora. Among them were the teaching of native languages, recognition of the events of the 19th century as genocide and deportation of Circassians, as well as recognition of Abkhazia by Turkey. TİP representatives promised to bring these issues to the parliamentary level.

The August action of 2026 was a continuation of at least several years of contacts between part of the Turkish opposition and organized structures of the Caucasian diaspora.

The Federation of Caucasian Associations of Turkey itself maintains relations with Abkhazia. For example, in January 2023, a delegation from the federation visited Sukhumi, where it planned meetings with the president, speaker of parliament, prime minister, and other representatives of the Abkhaz authorities. The delegation included leaders of the association, the Istanbul Caucasian Cultural Society, and the Circassian Society of Ankara.

The Abkhaz issue is a matter of honor for the peoples of the North Caucasus

The significance of the Abkhaz issue for the North Caucasian diaspora in Turkey is related not only to the current status of Abkhazia but also to the memory of the war of 1992-1993, in which representatives of the diaspora and volunteers from the Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus fought on the side of Abkhazia, said Turkish researcher of Caucasian history and writer Jem Kumuk.

"The enormous significance lies in the price that the diaspora and volunteers from the Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus paid for this victory in the struggle for existence against the Georgian leadership during the war of 1992-1993. In summary, the Abkhaz issue is a matter of honor for the peoples of the North Caucasus," he said.

The connection of the Abkhaz theme with the broader Circassian agenda Kumuk explained by the ethnic kinship of the Adyghe, Abkhaz, and Abazin peoples, as well as the enduring idea of political unity in the North Caucasus.

"The ethnic kinship of the Adyghe, Abkhaz, and Abazin peoples makes this interaction completely natural. The ideal of the Confederation of the Peoples of the North Caucasus is a great fire that has not extinguished since the beginning of the 20th century. Although at certain periods, under the influence of global realpolitik, it may seem that this fire has weakened, it always remains a flame, ready to flare up when circumstances demand. How alive and strong the spirit of 1918 is, we saw during the war of 1992-1993. It would be very dangerous for peace in the region if political, geographical, and national rivals make the same mistake and decide to test this again," said Jem Kumuk.

Circassian organizations supported the de-isolation of Abkhazia

Circassian and other North Caucasian public organizations in Turkey are actively participating in the campaign for the de-isolation of Abkhazia and support its demands, said Circassian activist Onur Chatal. He called the statement made in parliament on August 5 "a correct but belated step."

What brotherhood it was yesterday, in 1992, it remains so today

"Relations between Turkey and Abkhazia should have been developed much earlier. In 1992, many volunteers from Turkey – partisans and fighters of Caucasian origin – participated in the war between Abkhazia and Georgia. The reason for this is that the peoples of the Caucasus, who are usually divided into Adyghe, Abkhaz, Kabardians, Ossetians, Chechens, and Dagestanis, unite in times of danger to help each other. What brotherhood it was yesterday, in 1992, it remains so today and has even become stronger," he said to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot."

According to Chatal, the campaign is currently actively supported not only by Abkhaz but also by Circassian organizations, including cultural associations and business associations.

Among them, he named the Association of Caucasian Entrepreneurs, the Association of Caucasian Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Istanbul Association of Abkhaz Culture, the Istanbul Association of Caucasian Culture, the Federation of Circassian Associations, Bursa Çerkes Kültür Derneği, Balıkesir Adige-Cherkes Derneği, Yalova Çerkes Birliği Kültür ve Dayanışma Derneği, Kocaeli Kafkas Kültür Derneği, and Düzce Abhaz Derneği.

"Especially actively, trade lobbies and cultural associations are making numerous appeals and demands," Chatal said.

There is no unified position regarding the ultimate goal of the campaign within the diaspora. According to the activist, some of its representatives are primarily seeking recognition of Abkhaz passports and the lifting of travel restrictions, while others also advocate for the political recognition of Abkhazia.

"Despite the fact that Ankara supports the territorial integrity of Georgia, Abkhaz and Circassian politicians living in Turkey want recognition of Abkhazia, the start of air communication, and the development of trade. One part wants only recognition of passports and the lifting of travel restrictions. The other part, more informed in historical and cultural terms, wants more," Chatal said.

Recognition of Abkhazia by Turkey, in his opinion, would mean the development of political and trade relations, tourism in Sukhumi, Gagra, and Ochamchira, and contacts between "brotherly peoples."

In the diaspora, it was suggested not to seek politics behind humanitarian goals

The organizers of the campaign appeal primarily to the humanitarian problem. According to them, due to the non-recognition of documents, residents of Abkhazia face difficulties in visiting relatives, receiving medical treatment, studying, and cultural exchanges with Turkey.

Turkish researcher of Caucasian history and writer Jem Kumuk considers it an exaggeration to interpret the current campaign as the activity of an organized political lobby. In his opinion, it arose primarily from the practical needs of the Abkhaz and North Caucasian diaspora.

"For the Abkhaz diaspora, Abazins, and all the peoples of the North Caucasus, especially the Adyghe, Abkhazia is an important place to visit. Some go there every year to visit relatives, others choose Abkhazia for tourism. That is, this is a question that has an exclusively humanitarian basis. It would be an exaggeration to view this campaign as organized lobbying capable of influencing the agenda of Turkish political parties. The campaign was formed thanks to individual initiatives from representatives of the Abkhaz diaspora and the peoples of the North Caucasus. It cannot be considered that this initiative is driven by the influence or interests of political actors in Abkhazia or Turkey," he noted.

At the same time, the campaign does have a certain domestic political effect, the researcher acknowledged.

"Perhaps, to some extent, this gives the parliamentary opposition the opportunity to politically corner the government on such a humanitarian issue. However, it is necessary to understand very clearly that for Abkhaz and other peoples of the North Caucasus, this is exclusively about humanitarian and innocent demands," said Jem Kumuk.

Support for the initiative from representatives of several Turkish opposition parties of different ideological directions is also not linked by Jem Kumuk to an attempt to attract votes from the numerous North Caucasian diaspora.

"As I said, for the parliamentary opposition, this is an opportunity to politically corner the government on a humanitarian issue. I do not think they view citizens of North Caucasian origin as a potential source of votes," he said.

Turkey confirmed its commitment to the territorial integrity of Georgia

Despite the activity of opposition deputies, there are currently no signs of a revision of Turkey's official position on the status of Abkhazia. Turkey does not recognize the independence of Abkhazia and considers it part of Georgia.

On June 8, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia signed the Istanbul Declaration, in which they expressed "decisive and unequivocal" support for each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders. As a separate point, the participants of the meeting confirmed the necessity of restoring Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders.

This course has not only diplomatic significance for Ankara. Georgia is one of Turkey's main partners in the South Caucasus and a crucial transit link between Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, gas routes, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway pass through Georgian territory.

Against this backdrop, recognition of Abkhazia's independence would mean a revision of Turkey's entire policy towards Georgia.

Jem Kumuk also considers a change in Ankara's official position unlikely, but he called for separating the issue of diplomatic recognition of Abkhazia from the practical demands of the diaspora.

"Expecting a change in Turkey's official policy on this issue as a NATO member and an EU candidate is not very realistic. However, as I constantly emphasize, it is necessary to look at the issue not so much from the perspective of official policy but from a humanitarian point of view. The most important thing here is to eliminate barriers to travel to Abkhazia for hundreds of thousands of citizens of the Republic of Turkey of Abkhaz origin and millions of people of North Caucasian origin. Political initiatives aimed at recognizing Abkhazia by Turkey should be separated from this campaign," he stated.

In his opinion, the existing diplomatic status does not in itself exclude intermediate solutions.

"In this case, the principle inherent in democracies is very important, according to which opportunities for solutions are not exhausted. Many intermediate political and diplomatic solutions can be found to meet these humanitarian demands. For people traveling between Turkey and Abkhazia, some statuses may be applied for this purpose, numerous examples of which exist in international diplomacy," said Jem Kumuk.

Analysts called attempts to achieve separate forms of practical de-isolation of Abkhazia without changing its international legal status a more realistic scenario.

Political scientist Sergey Markedonov suggested that the first result of the current campaign may not be diplomatic relations but attempts to resolve issues of passports, ferry and air communication, and humanitarian trips. As an example, he pointed to the experience of Turkey's relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

However, there is a fundamental difference between the two cases: Turkey is the only country in the world that officially recognizes Northern Cyprus, while regarding Abkhazia, Ankara consistently declares recognition of Georgian sovereignty.

Jem Kumuk, on the contrary, considers the experience of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus applicable if viewed not through the lens of recognition but in terms of mechanisms for ensuring freedom of movement.

"It is necessary to look not so much at the political side of Turkey's relations with TRNC but at their humanitarian component. This humanitarian issue can be resolved in such a way that it does not imply political or diplomatic recognition of Abkhazia by Turkey. There are countless similar examples in the world," he said.

The goal of such a mechanism, Kumuk sees primarily in eliminating restrictions on movement.

"The goal here is completely clear and simple: to cancel practices that restrict the freedom of movement of people in accordance with the Convention on Human Rights and to prevent violations of this completely natural human right," the researcher stated.

Analysts pointed out the difficulties of direct communication with Abkhazia

In theory, the most accessible of the activists' demands appears to be the issue of documents, the initiative participants noted. Recognition of a passport as a travel document is not always equivalent to diplomatic recognition of the state that issued it. This circumstance is emphasized by the authors of the joint statement presented in parliament.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns citizens that visiting Abkhazia through the territories of third countries may entail liability under Georgian law.

Jem Chatal reported that he received information about the possible soon opening of flights by Turkish Airlines to Abkhazia. "We have received information that Turkish Airlines flights may start very soon. I hope this is not the end of it," he said to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot."

At the same time, opportunities for contacts that do not formally question the territorial integrity of Georgia remain relevant: humanitarian trips, medical treatment of residents of Abkhazia in Turkey, educational and cultural programs, connections between public organizations, and special permits for movement.

Kumuk, unlike such an assessment, does not consider Tbilisi's position the main obstacle to resolving the issue. He pointed to existing economic ties through Georgian territory and the possibility of crossing the demarcation line via Inguri.

"I do not think there is any red line on this issue from Tbilisi. Considering that relatively recently, electricity exports to Abkhazia were carried out through Georgia, and the Abkhaz-Georgian border along the Inguri River is permeable, it would be more correct in this matter to focus not on the Georgian side but on other actors," he believes.

One of these factors the researcher named the situation in the Russian direction. Previously, a significant number of those wishing to visit Abkhazia from Turkey used the route through Russia, but, according to Kumuk, it now creates additional difficulties.

"Arbitrary deportations carried out today by Russian authorities on this route are a serious deterrent for families planning trips to visit relatives or for tourism. Thus, this is a policy aimed at severing ties between the diaspora and residents of the North Caucasian republics with Abkhazia," Kumuk stated.

Analysts pointed out the possible intersection of interests of the Turkish initiative with Russia's position

Jem Kumuk believes that the development of direct relations with Abkhazia would objectively serve the interests of Turkey and Abkhazia itself, considering the numerous North Caucasian diaspora, but he links the possibility of changing Turkish policy with a broader balance of relations between Ankara, Moscow, and Tbilisi.

"Considering that today even the leadership in Tbilisi is under the influence of Moscow, when answering this question, we will see that mathematically two plus two does not equal four. The residence of millions of people of North Caucasian origin in Turkey is, of course, an indicator that the development of direct relations between Turkey and Abkhazia would be beneficial for both sides," he said.

At the same time, relations with Russia, in Kumuk's opinion, significantly limit Ankara's room for maneuver.

"However, Turkey's relations with Russia as a NATO member and an EU candidate are weighed on very sensitive scales. Therefore, the possibility of a radical change in Turkey's policy towards Abkhazia will be directly proportional to the development of relations between the parties of this triangle," the researcher stated.

He emphasized that he does not consider the current campaign part of a grand geopolitical strategy. "This is a campaign containing exclusively humanitarian demands. The main criterion here is not current realpolitik but the obligations of states under the Convention on Human Rights," concluded Jem Kumuk.