Tkvarcheli(Georgian:ტყვარჩელი[tʼqʼʷaɾtʃʰeli];Abkhaz:Тҟəарчал,Tqwarchal;Ткуарчал (Tkuarchal)Russian:Ткварчели,Tkvarcheli) is a town inAbkhazia.[note 1]It is situated on the riverGhalidzga(Aaldzga) and a railway connects it withOchamchire.Akarmara, an area within the town, is aghost townwith abandoned apartments and factories which became uninhabited in the early 1990s due to theWar in Abkhazia(1992-1993), and is home to just 35 residents today.[2]
Tkvarcheli
ტყვარჩელი, Тҟəарчал, Ткварчели Tqvarcheli, Tqwarchal, Tkvarcheli | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Aerial view of the town | |
 | |
  Tkvarcheli | |
| Coordinates:42°51′N41°41′E/ 42.850°N 41.683°E | |
| Country |  Georgia |
| Partially recognized independent country |  Abkhazia[1] |
| District | Tkvarcheli |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 5,013 |
| Time zone | UTC+03:00(MSK) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+04:00 |
History
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Coal mining,which began in the area in 1935, grew in importance during theSecond World War,especially after theDonbaswas lost duringthe German invasionof theSoviet Union.Tkvarcheli was given town status on 9 April 1942.[3]
During theWar in Abkhazia(1992–93), Tkvarcheli withstood, through Russian military aid, asiegeby the Georgian forces. Since 1995, it has been the centre of the newly formedTkvarcheli District.On 27 September 2008, PresidentSergei Bagapshawarded it the honorary title of Hero City.[3]
Industry
editCoal-mining has been the town's main industry, although now the Soviet mines are closed and coal is quarried only by the Abkhaz-TurkishTamsaş company using theopen pitmethod.[2]Tamsaş's tax payments account for 75% of the Tkvarcheli district's budget however, the company was criticised for neglecting environmental requirements.[4]Georgia regards all this investment as illegal, in clear violation of the 1996CISrestrictions[5]and has arrested several vessels, loaded with coal from Tkvarcheli, in itsterritorial waters,a measure that has reportedly brought Tamsaş to the verge of bankruptcy.[6]
Demography
editThe town's population was 21,744 in 1989. The three main ethnic groups wereAbkhaz(42.3%),Russians(24.5%) andGeorgians(23.4%).[7]As a result of theWar in Abkhaziathe town's industries all but stopped and its population decreased greatly and was between 7,000 and 8,000 in 2004 according to some sources[8]and only 4,800 according to others.[9]At the time of the 2003 census, its population was 4,786.[citation needed]By the time of the 2011 census, it had increased to 5,013. Of these, 66.5% wereAbkhaz,17.4%Georgian,9.7%Russian,1.3%Ukrainian,1.1%Armenianand 0.4%Greek.[10]
Gallery
edit-
View of the Akarmara ghost town near Tkvarcheli -
View of an abandoned factory in Akarmara -
View of abandoned apartments in Akarmara
Notes
edit- ^The political status of Abkhazia is disputed. Having unilaterally declared independence fromGeorgiain 1992, Abkhaziais formally recognised as an independent stateby 5 UN member states (two other states previously recognised it but then withdrew their recognition), while the remainder of the international community recognizes it asde jureGeorgian territory. Georgia continues to claim the area as its own territory, designating it asRussian-occupied territory.
References
edit- ^The political status of Abkhazia is disputed. Having unilaterally declared independence fromGeorgiain 1992, Abkhaziais formally recognised as an independent stateby 5 UN member states (two other states previously recognised it but then withdrew their recognition), while the remainder of the international community recognizes it asde jureGeorgian territory. Georgia continues to claim the area as its own territory, designating it asRussian-occupied territory.
- ^abInal KhashigTkuarchal, Abkhazia – a former coal capital trying to survive05.09.2020JAMnews
- ^ab"Городу-Герою Ткуарчал исполняется 70 лет".Apsnypress.9 April 2012.Retrieved11 April2012.
- ^The Turkish Tamsas Can Resume Mining in Abkhazia If It Complies with Environmental RequirementsArchived2007-09-28 at theWayback Machine09/11/2006 18:00, Official site of the President of Abkhazia
- ^Abkhazia Today.TheInternational Crisis GroupEuropeReport N°176, 15 September 2006.Retrieved on September 30, 2007.Free registration needed to view full report
- ^Abkhaz MP: Georgia’s Sea Seizure Pose Threat to Abkhaz Coal Industry.Civil Georgia.October 26, 2007.
- ^Abkhazia census statistics(in Russian)
- ^Отчет миссии ПРООН по изучению возможностей Гальского района и смежных с ним территорий Абхазии, Грузия, Апрель 2004Archived2007-09-25 at theWayback Machine
- ^Абхазия - город Ткварчели
- ^2011 Census results
