Abkhazia’s Abandoned Railway Lies Forgotten
Tue, Sep 16, 2008
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Thanks to Ilya Varlamov for all images
At the height of the Russian Empire buildings were grandiose, colorful and inspiring but since the collapse of the USSR some lie abandoned, as with this railway station in Abkhazia, a former Russian territory.
The ornate hallways, seating areas and stairwells are nothing like we’re used to today, which is a shame. If our railway stations looked this good, there would probably be a lot less complaining when the trains are delayed, or cancelled!
The railway was once a busy passenger route between Abkhazia and Russia and is testament to the former Soviet’s rich past. It now belongs to nature.
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1 Trackbacks For This Post
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THE OVERSPRAY MAGAZINE FISHBOWL » Blog Archive » Forgotten Railways Says:
September 17th, 2008 at 6:25 pm[...] found at environmentalgraffiti.com [...]
September 16th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Many of our railway stations in the UK were once grand and beautiful but they were mostly boarded up because of vandalism in the ’70s and 80’s before finally being demolished and replaced with cattle shelters.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Reminds me of my mother-in-laws house, minus the backyard puppy farm.
filthyrichmond.blogspot.com
September 17th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Intriguing. It’s like a more tropical version of Detroit’s Michigan Central Station.
September 17th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Why there is no link to my blog?
http://zyalt.livejournal.com/
If you post here my photos, do not forget to make a link!!!!!
September 17th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Hi Zyalt
So sorry. The only link I could find was in Russian so I couldn’t tell if it was a link to the photograher’s site or a general Russian blog, so thanks for getting in touch. We do try our hardest to make sure any images or info we use gets full credit. I’ve added your link just now.
Cheers
Linda
September 18th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
How beautiful! Ilya, great photos on your blog. What a shame the buildings have been abandoned …
November 11th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
This is nothing, go to Chernobyl, the dead zone.
http://www.kiddofspeed.com/
March 21st, 2009 at 9:51 am
Such a places looks like that, because 80% of population of Abkhazia (mostly Georgians) are refuges and during the last 15 years Russian “Peacekeepers” were not letting them to return to their homes in Abkhazia.
On September 27, 1993, Sukhumi was occupied by “Abkhazs”, Chechens and other north Caucasians terrorists and by Russian Federation Military Forces, thousands of Georgians killed and hundreds of thousands left their homes.
In most of Abkhazia, displaced Georgians have never returned, but in Gali district, many did. But at inactivity of the Russian “peacemakers” were killed more than 2000 civilians of the Georgian nationality in 1994-2007 – during the duration of the “peace keeping” mandate. And some old Georgian scripts disappeared from our Churches in Abkhazia.
Beginning VIII century until XIV modern Abkhazia was a part of the United Georgian Kingdom. Later part of western Georgian Kingdom of Abkhazia – Ruled by western branch of the Georgian Royal Dynasty – BAGRATIONI. – RUSSIAN TV IS NEVER SAYNG THIS
In addition let me note that ALL PATRIARCS (HEADS OF THE CHURCH) OF THE (WESTERN GEORGIAN) PATRIARCHATE OF ABKHAZIA WERE GEORGIANS.
The Orthodox Patriarchs of Abkhazia mostly came from the leading GEORGIAN noble houses, and were able to support the church financially and secure its continuous involvement in the political and cultural life of western Georgian Kingdom of Abkhazia.
Nicholas (latter part of the 13th century)
NOTE: – before that – after Byzantium moved away from western Georgia – from VIII century – church of Abkhazia was of course ruled by Patriarchs of the United Georgian Kingdom)
Arsenius (c. 1390)
Daniel (late 14th century)
Joachim (1470s)
Stephan (1490-1516)
Malachia I Abashidze (1519-1540)
Eudemios I Chkhetidze (1557-1578)
Euthymius I Sakvarelidze (1578-1616)
Malachia II Gurieli (1616-1639)
Gregory I (1639)
Maxim I Machutasdze (1639-1657)
Zachary Kvariani (1657-1660)
Simeon I Chkhetidze (1660-1666)
Eudemios II Sakvarelidze (1666-1669)
Euthymius II Sakvarelidze (1669-1673)
David Nemsadze (1673-1696)
Gregory II Lordkipanidze (1696-1742)
German Tsulukidze (1742-1751)
Bessarion Eristavi (1751-1769)
Joseph Bagrationi (1769-1776)
Maxim II Abashidze (1776-1795)
Dositheus Tsereteli (1795-1814)
During the all this period church and government official language in western Georgia (including Abkhazia) was only Georgian (Before VII century Greek).
In the latter part of the 16th century, Catholicos Patriarch Eudemos I (Chkheidze) had to move his residence from Bichvinta (Pitsunda) to the Gelati Monastery at Kutaisi, fleeing the Ottoman and NORTH CAUCASIAN MUSLIMS– fake “Abkhazians” expansion into Historical Georgian Land of Abkhazia.
The conflict in Abkhazia was heightened by the involvement of Russia, mostly on the Abkhaz side, especially during the war’s initial stages. Whereas Russia has endorsed the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia, Russian arms found their way into Abkhaz hands, Russian planes bombed civilian targets in Georgian-controlled territory, Russian military vessels, manned by supporters of the Abkhaz side, were made available to shell Georgian-held Sukhumi.