A unique and highly interesting meeting has taken at the Baku Photography House, AzerNEWS reports.
Day: June 16, 2026
Abkhazia is set to introduce a language requirement for parliamentary candidates, making knowledge of the Abkhaz language mandatory. However, there is little certainty that the measure will achieve its intended goals.
The relevant amendment to the law on parliamentary elections, adopted in 2021, stipulates that only citizens of Abkhazia who are proficient in both Abkhaz and Russian may be elected to the People’s Assembly of Abkhazia. The provision is due to come into force on 1 January 2027.
As a result, the next parliamentary elections, scheduled for March 2027, will be held under the new rules. With only around six months remaining before the vote, several political groups have begun questioning whether the language requirement is necessary.
The proposed restriction has been criticised in particular by two pro-government parties, Aitaira and ERA.
Leonid Lakerbaya, leader of Aitaira, argues that the language requirement not only runs counter to Abkhazia’s historical experience but also poses a direct threat to internal stability. In his view, the amendment would deprive the republic of the opportunity to attract talented administrators and professionals simply because they do not speak Abkhaz. He also warned that it could set a dangerous precedent for discrimination on linguistic grounds and undermine the fragile balance of interethnic relations.
Opponents of the language requirement have proposed either postponing the amendment’s entry into force or scrapping it altogether.
The language requirement also has supporters, who argue that it is consistent with state policy aimed at preserving the Abkhaz language.
For example, opposition activist Said Beya dismisses arguments about the loss of qualified professionals and barriers for ethnic minorities as a form of political manipulation.
“What ‘multi-ethnic composition’ are we talking about? Look at the facts: the current parliament has 35 deputies, 32 of whom have Abkhaz surnames. Only three represent the Armenian community. If more than 90% of parliament is Abkhaz, why should we be alarmed by a requirement to know our own language?
The question arises: perhaps some politicians already know who the future candidates will be and are trying in advance to remove an ‘obstacle’ for those they support?” Beya argued.
Prominent public figure and Aslan Kobakhia also supports the requirement, describing a politician who does not speak the state language as a contradiction in terms.
“Not knowing the state language is unfortunate. But not knowing the constitution of the country where you present yourself as a politician is worse than mere discourtesy.
There is not a single country in the world where one can build a political career without knowing the state language. Perhaps it is time to stop experimenting with the country.
We have plenty of citizens of non-Abkhaz ethnicity who speak the state language better than many Abkhaz do. The problem lies with Abkhaz themselves, who can find a hundred reasons to undermine the foundations of the constitution,” Kobakhia said.
Although repealing the language requirement appears highly unlikely, there is no guarantee that the next parliament will be composed entirely of Abkhaz speakers. Current legislation does not specify which body will assess candidates’ language proficiency or what criteria will be used.
According to Omar Smyr, the Central Election Commission of Abkhazia will in any case have to enforce the provision once it comes into effect. However, he warned that unless a mechanism for implementing the language requirement is formally established, any decision taken by the commission could become the subject of legal challenges.
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Georgian lawyer fined over Facebook comment
Georgian lawyer Shota Tutberidze has been administratively fined 4,000 lari ($1,454) for a comment he posted on social media in response to a publication by MP Nino Tsilosani.
The case is appears to be the first precedents under a new legal mechanism that provides for liability for verbally insulting a person holding political office.
The case concerns a Facebook post published by MP Nino Tsilosani on 2 June 2026 about her visit to Canada, under which lawyer Shota Tutberidze left a strongly worded comment. The Georgian Interior Ministry subsequently launched administrative proceedings against him.
The investigation was conducted by the ministry’s recently established Hate Speech Enforcement Unit. Authorities relied on a provision of the Code of Administrative Offences concerning the verbal insult of a person holding political office.
Following the court ruling, Tsilosani said the case constituted an important precedent and helped establish a new practice for responding to offensive statements on social media.
“It turned out that the insulting comment under my post became the first precedent, and I am pleased that a very good practice has now been established and that there has been a concrete response to the insults so freely distributed, particularly by representatives of the United National Movement and their supporters,” Tsilosani told broadcaster Imedi TV.
She described Tutberidze as a “lawyer for the National Movement” and said making insulting statements was “common practice” for him. However, she added that the court’s decision sent a signal not only to the individual concerned but also to others that such behaviour would no longer go unanswered.
What is the Hate Speech Enforcement Unit?
On 1 June, a new Hate Speech Enforcement Unit began operating within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. Its main task is to identify statements made in the public sphere that are deemed defamatory, insulting to a person’s dignity, and indicative of an administrative offence.
According to the ministry, the unit will proactively monitor public statements, including social media posts and comments, identify alleged offenders and establish their identities.
The unit will also prepare administrative case materials and draw up offence reports for submission to the courts.
The new body’s activities will be carried out within the framework of the existing legislative framework.