Media in Abkhazia consists of several TV channels, newspapers, magazines and radio stations. Some of them are government-owned, others are private. Apsnypress

Apsnypress

Apsnypress is the state press agency of Abkhazia, an unrecognized, but de facto independent republic, considered de jure to be a part of Georgia...

 is the government information agency. Russian media are generally also available and is popular.

History

The first newspaper appeared in Abkhazia in 1917 , Dmitry Gulia was its editor. It was succeeded by Apsny Kapsh (Red Abkhazia) in Soviet times. Alongside it there were numerous other publications in Abkhaz, Russian, Georgian, Armenian, Greek and Laz languages. The 1992-1993 Georgian-Abkhaz war which was followed by the exodus of a large share of the republic's population and a blockade had a profound effect on all the media, with only a few surviving it.

Television broadcasting

The most important channel is a state-run one, which is broadcast up to 6 hours a day, with 15-minute news in Abkhaz and Russian. It is the only local channel available all over the country. Abaza TV

Abaza TV

Abaza TV is a television station operating in Abkhazia. It is owned by businessman and politician Beslan Butba. It claims to have an independent editorial policy that is not aligned with either the government or the opposition of Abkhazia. The station broadcasts twice a day in Russian and has a...

, the only private station, reaches only Sukhumi

Sukhumi

Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. The city suffered heavily during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the early 1990s.-Naming:...

 and its environs. It is owned by Beslan Butba

Beslan Butba

Beslan Butba is a businessman and opposition politician from Abkhazia. He owns Abkhazia's only private television station Abaza TV and is the chairman of the Party of the Economic Development of Abkhazia...

 and supported him during the 2009 presidential elections

Abkhazian presidential election, 2009

On 12 December 2009, Abkhazia held its fourth Presidential election since the post of President of the Republic of Abkhazia was created in 1994. The election was won by incumbent president Sergei Bagapsh in the first round with 61% of the votes, thus gaining a second term in office. He was be...

. Another private channel, Sukhum-TV existed in the capital in 2006, there are local TV stations in Gagra and Tkvarcheli.

Russian channels, such as Channel One

Channel One (Russia)

Channel One is the first television channel to broadcast in the Soviet Union. The channel was renamed Ostankino Channel 1 in 1991, after the Soviet Union broke up and the Russian SFSR became the Russian Federation. According to a recent government publication, the Russian government controls 51%...

, Russia 1, NTV and Kultura, are available throughout Abkhazia. There is an access to Georgian TV in some parts of Abkhazia as well.

Newspapers

There are two government and several private newspapers, published in Russian (predominantly) and Abkhaz. The circulation ranges from 1,000 to 5,000, most of the newspapers are weeklies. There is a degree a diversity, opposition media criticise the government over the wide range of issues such as Abkhazian-Russian relations and internal politics. Novy Den and Chegemskaya Pravda

Chegemskaya Pravda

Chegemskaya Pravda is an independent Russian-language weekly newspaper in Abkhazia. It was founded on 18 June 2004 by Inal Khashig. It currently has a circulation of 1100 and its price is 10 ruble.-Initial reports:...

 newspapers had a pro-opposition tone during the 2009 presidential elections

Abkhazian presidential election, 2009

On 12 December 2009, Abkhazia held its fourth Presidential election since the post of President of the Republic of Abkhazia was created in 1994. The election was won by incumbent president Sergei Bagapsh in the first round with 61% of the votes, thus gaining a second term in office. He was be...

.
There have been several claims of harassment of journalists by the authorities. In September 2009, a court in Sukhumi gave journalist Anton Krivenyuk a three-year suspended sentence for allegedly libelling Bagapsh. Some Abkhazian journalists viewed this as an intimidation of opposition in the run-up to the elections.

Radio

Radio Soma

Radio SOMA

Radio SOMA is a Russian-language musical FM radio station based in Abkhazia. It is Abkhazia's only independent radio station.-History:The first broadcast started on December 31, 1997. Radio SOMA was founded by Zurab Ajinjal, who first had the idea to launch the station in 1997.-Broadcasts:The...

 is the only private radio station is very popular, broadcasting 24 hours a day, primarily music, but also carrying some news and, at times, live talk shows with invited guests. The state radio, like state TV, broadcasts for 3-4 hours a day.

Sources

• A Survey of Access to Information in Abkhazia and its Impact on People’s Lives, Article 19
  ARTICLE 19
  ARTICLE 19 is a London-based human rights organisation with a specific mandate and focus on the defence and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide...
  
  , June 2007
• Abkhazia Today, International Crisis Group
  International Crisis Group
  The International Crisis Group is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to prevent and resolve deadly conflicts around the world through field-based analyses and high-level advocacy.-History:...
  
  , 15.09.2006
• Abkhazia: Deepening Dependence, International Crisis Group
  International Crisis Group
  The International Crisis Group is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to prevent and resolve deadly conflicts around the world through field-based analyses and high-level advocacy.-History:...
  
  , 26.02.2010

External links

• Apsnypress, information agency of Abkhazia
• Newspapers of Abkhazia - archive of 4 main newspapers (Echo Abkhazii, Novy Den, Nuzhnaya, Chegemskaya Pravda)
• Radio SOMA