On October 27, Georgia marks Abkhazian Language Day. The occasion was established in 2007 to commemorate the anniversary of the October 27, 1997 constitutional amendment that introduced a revised Article 8 to the Constitution of Georgia, enshrining the status of the Abkhazian language as a state language (alongside Georgian) within the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
The Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality issued a special statement to mark the occasion. The agency extended its congratulations on Abkhazian Language Day to “all of Georgia, and especially to those for whom the preservation of the Abkhazian language, culture, traditions, and identity represents the highest value.”
“The Abkhazian language is an outstanding treasure of Georgia’s centuries-old and diverse cultural heritage. Its uniqueness is an integral part of the Georgian-Abkhaz historical unity and our shared past, the protection and transmission of which to future generations is a common responsibility and concern.
As a result of the ongoing policy of occupation and Russification, the Abkhazian language and cultural identity remain under serious threat, posing a shared challenge to representatives of both the Georgian and Abkhaz communities. Caring for its preservation and development is a key priority for the Government of Georgia, reinforced both by the constitutional status of the Abkhazian language and by state policy on reconciliation and engagement.”
The statement further noted that this is precisely why targeted efforts to protect the Abkhazian language continue actively “within the framework of the Georgian government’s principled and pragmatic peace policy.”
According to UNESCO, the Abkhazian language is included in the list of endangered languages, and the Government of Georgia remains consistently committed to its protection and development.
