Ethnic Abkhazians in Turkey have requested Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh to act as a mediator with Russia to achieve the simplification of visa rules for ethnic Abkhazians wishing to return to the breakaway region via Russia, the Abkhaz leader’s website reported on September 12.

According to the report, ethnic Abkhazians in Turkey have recently experienced difficulties in obtaining Russian visas. Previously, the process was very simple.

Meanwhile, the Abkhaz leader’s website quoted Abkhaz lawmaker Soner Gogua as saying that a session of a working group on the facilitation of the repatriation of ethnic Abkhazians would be held on September 14 to prepare a relevant state program.

He also said that the working group should incorporate potential repatriates. 

Tens of thousands of Muslim Abkhazians, known as Muhajirs, moved to the then Ottoman empire, as part of a larger Muslim migration pattern in the ninetenth century.