The News in Brief
Friday, November 23
Vladimir Putin Meets Abkhaz Leader in Sochi
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Abkhaz leader Raul Khajimba in Sochi on November 21 to take stock of Moscow’s economic and political relations with Abkhazia.
In a brief press engagement before the meeting, Putin said relations with Sokhumi have “a special, strategic, allied character.” “Our trade turnover is growing, but at a low rate with 5% last year and 2% in the first 9-10 months,” he added.
Putin also noted that although some 300 Russian enterprises operate in Abkhazia, “that is not sufficient,” and “additional efforts need to be taken to boost the economic development.”
Khajimba, on his part, underscored the importance of defense cooperation, noting that over 94 joint activities have been carried out in 2018. “This is important for Abkhazia and is needed for demonstrating once again [how intensive] our relations [are].”
Putin and Khajimba previously met in August in Moscow, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia. (Civil.ge)
Breakaway authorities in Abkhazia pressuring Georgian schools to teach in Russian
Sokhumi suspects that the schools in this southern district with a predominantly ethnic Georgian population are violating a relatively recent policy to only allow Russian as the instructional language up to 7th grade, and instead of teaching in Georgian.
“We had open door days a few days ago. Up to 50 guests came to check [teaching process] and attended lessons. Can you imagine 12 such ‘guests’ sitting at the class with only 6 students? Similar open days were held every year, but they’d never come with such a huge delegation. In addition, unexpected visits to schools have become systematic. Any time the controller from the Gali administration can open the door [to the classroom],” a teacher at one of the Georgian schools in Gali told us.
Most teachers DFWatch met with the suspect the reason is to ultimately root out teaching in Georgian.
“As you know, schools keep on teaching in Georgian, hence I think such unexpected visits are intended to root it out,” the teacher said.
In addition, last week the breakaway authorities held exams for the Russian teachers at the Georgian schools.
“The examination material was sent from Krasnodar. It included 30 items. Up to 50 teachers were examined, eight didn’t pass,” she said.
Georgian teachers have already undergone special training in Gali for several years, and after the end of the course, they have to pass an exam.
Currently, 30 schools are open in the Gali district, ten of which are part Georgian. From September 1, Georgian was replaced by Russian as the instructional language in all classes from 1st to 7th grade. Although senior classes still teach in Georgian, this will be phased out. In a few years, all schools in Gali will, therefore, teach in Russian. (DF watch)
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Abkhaz leader Raul Khajimba in Sochi on November 21 to take stock of Moscow’s economic and political relations with Abkhazia.
In a brief press engagement before the meeting, Putin said relations with Sokhumi have “a special, strategic, allied character.” “Our trade turnover is growing, but at a low rate with 5% last year and 2% in the first 9-10 months,” he added.
Putin also noted that although some 300 Russian enterprises operate in Abkhazia, “that is not sufficient,” and “additional efforts need to be taken to boost the economic development.”
Khajimba, on his part, underscored the importance of defense cooperation, noting that over 94 joint activities have been carried out in 2018. “This is important for Abkhazia and is needed for demonstrating once again [how intensive] our relations [are].”
Putin and Khajimba previously met in August in Moscow, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia. (Civil.ge)
Breakaway authorities in Abkhazia pressuring Georgian schools to teach in Russian
Sokhumi suspects that the schools in this southern district with a predominantly ethnic Georgian population are violating a relatively recent policy to only allow Russian as the instructional language up to 7th grade, and instead of teaching in Georgian.
“We had open door days a few days ago. Up to 50 guests came to check [teaching process] and attended lessons. Can you imagine 12 such ‘guests’ sitting at the class with only 6 students? Similar open days were held every year, but they’d never come with such a huge delegation. In addition, unexpected visits to schools have become systematic. Any time the controller from the Gali administration can open the door [to the classroom],” a teacher at one of the Georgian schools in Gali told us.
Most teachers DFWatch met with the suspect the reason is to ultimately root out teaching in Georgian.
“As you know, schools keep on teaching in Georgian, hence I think such unexpected visits are intended to root it out,” the teacher said.
In addition, last week the breakaway authorities held exams for the Russian teachers at the Georgian schools.
“The examination material was sent from Krasnodar. It included 30 items. Up to 50 teachers were examined, eight didn’t pass,” she said.
Georgian teachers have already undergone special training in Gali for several years, and after the end of the course, they have to pass an exam.
Currently, 30 schools are open in the Gali district, ten of which are part Georgian. From September 1, Georgian was replaced by Russian as the instructional language in all classes from 1st to 7th grade. Although senior classes still teach in Georgian, this will be phased out. In a few years, all schools in Gali will, therefore, teach in Russian. (DF watch)