Officials from Gov’t of Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia visit displaced youth at international camp in Turkey

Senior officials from the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia have visited young people displaced from Georgia’s currently Russian-controlled Abkhazia region during an international youth camp held on the Turkish island of Kinaliada.

Deputy Chairman of the Government of Abkhazia Anzor Margiani and Minister for Internally Displaced Persons Davit Patsatsia travelled to the island during the closing days of the camp, which was organised by the Service Agency of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia with the support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The programme, held from 14 to 24 July, brought together children aged 12 to 15 for a series of cultural, educational and recreational activities.

Participants, all of whom are displaced from Abkhazia, took part in excursions to historical sites in Istanbul and engaged in two weeks of workshops and events aimed at strengthening their cultural identity and building community ties.

Speaking at the camp’s closing ceremony, Patsatsia expressed gratitude to those who helped make the programme possible.

"First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to our Patriarch, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, for his prayers and blessings, and to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Metro Eurasia Investments Georgia for their cooperation and assistance," he said. "With their support, we have been conducting international camps in Greece for the fourth year and now in the Republic of Turkey as well."

Patsatsia praised the initiative for providing participants with what he described as "important experience and knowledge."

Certificates were presented to the young participants, with both Margiani and Patsatsia offering words of encouragement and support.