Comments on: This Land Is Not Your Land

By: Pat

Pat — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 10:54:17 +0000

Abkhazia and so called South Ossetia are parts of Georgia.

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Sun, 14 May 2017 13:31:17 +0000

In reply to Nancy Schaubhut. We didn't try to visit Abkhazia so don't have any first-hand experience. I've read reports from other travelers who traveled from Georgia into Abkhazia and back to Georgia again without any issues. You might want to post a question on a travel forum like Lonely Planet Thorntree to get a response from travelers who have been recently. And, be sure to check whether travel insurance covers the area as sometimes places that appear on government travel warning lists aren't covered. Good luck and hope it works out!

By: Nancy Schaubhut

Nancy Schaubhut — Mon, 01 May 2017 19:26:01 +0000

We’re traveling to the Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan this summer. Do you have any advice on Americans traveling to Abkhazia? Would you advise against it?

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 13:50:23 +0000

In reply to Lina. Hi Lina. We personally never personally felt threatened, but did find the attention to maps a little overdone. If I understand the history of this region (and other frozen conflict and disputed regions in the former Soviet Union), a lot of it goes back to borders drawn deliberately by Stalin to cause trouble between various ethnic groups. Really unfortunate for everyone involved.

By: Lina

Lina — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 01:18:22 +0000

Being from that region, all I can say is that this behavior by Azerbaijanis doesn’t surprise me. It was a crazy world living there. I am glad they didn’t hurt you!

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:12:06 +0000

@Priyank: What’s really a shame is that many of these borders were drawn arbitrarily for political purposes and families were split on either side of the border. Yes, these conflicts are indeed sad and go from generation to generation. Not quite sure how to stop the cycle.

By: Priyank

Priyank — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:27:24 +0000

Hello Daniel and Audery,
Wonderful narration again. The only place I’ve been to is Sochi in Russian Caucasus. I fail to understand the rationale of security personnel investigating our passports and belongings – be it in Tibet under China or sensitivity of the Nagorno-Karabagh zone or an Israeli visa in your passport. What is removing the maps or confiscating the books going to achieve? These publications are not a political statements by foreign government afterall. Anyway, such conflicts are sad indeed.
Priyank.

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:39:05 +0000

@Cheryl: I appreciate that because of who am I, where I’ve lived and what I’ve experienced, I can probably never truly understand the pain connected to the conflicts between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Having both Azerbaijani and Armenian friends, all I can say is how sad and unfortunate it (and any conflict, really) is.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:00:20 +0000

This conflict is really big pain in Azerbaijani history. You just have to understand such attitude,attention to Your maps. How would You feel yourselves if Your land had been occupied for many years,the blood of Your ansectors was spilled,and after this You would be told that hey,you,it’s not your land,it’s ours! If people in Your villages were violently killed without any warning,in the night by Your enemies?

By: Audrey

Audrey — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:58:44 +0000

Sirje, thanks for your meaningful comment. Learning through talking with people and through personal experiences is the best way for us to understand a situation and a place. We hope others may learn from our experiences as well.