Preparations are underway in Turkey to establish a parliamentary friendship group with Abkhazia, with an official announcement planned for November 17 in Ankara. The initiative has already drawn objections from Georgian civic organizations operating in Turkey, who argue that such moves infringe upon the issue of Georgia’s territorial integrity.

The group is being formed with the participation of lawmakers from seven political entities: the New Party (Yeni Parti), the Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi), the DEM Party, the DEVA Party, the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), the Labour Party (EMEP), and the "New Path" (Yeni Yol) parliamentary group. The initiative is also being supported by the public campaign "End the Isolation of Abkhazia." The group’s presentation and inaugural meeting are scheduled to take place at the InterContinental Grand Ankara hotel.

This is not the first time such an initiative has sparked controversy. On August 5, lawmakers from several Turkish parties issued a joint appeal in parliament, urging Ankara to recognize Abkhazian passports as valid travel documents and to restore direct maritime and air links with Abkhazia. The proponents of the initiative cite humanitarian grounds, arguing that current restrictions hinder travel to visit relatives, access medical care, and pursue education.

On November 15, 16 Georgian civic organizations active in Turkey spoke out against the initiative. In a joint statement, they emphasized that Abkhazia lies within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia and that the de facto authority currently in place there does not constitute an independent state.

The signatories of the statement argue that it is inappropriate to discuss ending Abkhazia’s isolation without addressing the issue of Russian control over the region. In their view, any genuine restoration of ties can only occur once the occupation has ended. They also urged the Turkish authorities to adhere to the principles of international law, uphold the territorial integrity of Georgia, and protect the rights of internally displaced persons—including their rights to return and to property.

At the same time, the Georgian organizations explicitly stated that they do not oppose the cultural rights of Abkhazians or members of the Abkhaz diaspora in Turkey. They maintained, however, that the protection of these rights should not serve as a basis for supporting political initiatives that call into question Georgia’s territorial integrity.

Earlier, on October 20, Turkish Member of Parliament Mahmut Tanal advocated for the establishment of an inter-parliamentary friendship group with Abkhazia. He called on the leadership of the Turkish parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to recognize Abkhaz passports at border crossings, facilitate travel between the two sides, and restore direct maritime and air links. Tanal argued that political disagreements should not hinder family reunification or access to education and medical care.

Ankara’s official position remains unchanged: Turkey recognizes the territorial integrity of Georgia and does not recognize the independence of Abkhazia. The calls made by these Turkish lawmakers originate from specific opposition political factions and do not, in themselves, signify a shift in the country’s state policy.