Abkhazia's Art Collection Devastated as Fire Consumes Around 4,000 Works

A devastating fire in Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia controlled by Russia, has resulted in the near-total destruction of the region's art collection. The fire, which broke out in the National Art Gallery in the capital city Sukhumi, consumed over 4,000 paintings. The gallery, housed in a wooden structure dating back to the early 20th century, was home to an extensive collection of Abkhazian art. Authorities believe that an electrical short circuit may have been the cause of the fire. Social media footage captured the intense flames inside the gallery, adding to the heartbreak of the loss. Among the destroyed works of art were 300 pieces by the renowned artist and stage designer Alexander Chachba-Shervashidze. The director of the national gallery, Suram Sakanya, lamented the monumental loss for Abkhaz culture, noting that the collection had managed to survive the civil war between Abkhazia and Georgia in the 1990s. He expressed his sorrow, stating that the collection, painstakingly assembled since 1963, was reduced to ashes within seconds. Local artists had long been advocating for a more adequate storage facility for the unique collection, citing cramped rooms and insufficient protection. Prior to the fire, a video revealed paintings stacked closely together without proper safeguards. Abkhazia, located in the northwestern part of Georgia and bordering Russia, receives military and financial support from Moscow. The region fought a war of secession with Georgia from 1992 to 1993 and declared independence in 1999, although it has limited international recognition. Since the Georgian-Russian war in 2008, Russia has recognized Abkhazia as an independent state, while Georgia maintains that it is occupied by Russia. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili expressed her sorrow, labeling the fire as a tragedy for all. She blamed the neglect of cultural identity by the de facto leadership and Russia for the incident. Russia has pledged to send specialists to Sukhumi to assist in the restoration of the 150 paintings that were saved from the fire, offering some hope amid the immense loss.