Tkvarcheli

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Tkvarcheli
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native_name = Тҟəарчал, ტყვარჩელი, Ткварчели (Ткуарчал)
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settlement_type = town
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map_caption = location of Tkvarcheli within Abkhazia


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subdivision_type = de facto independent country (internationally recognised as part of Georgia)
subdivision_name = Abkhazia
subdivision_type1 = District
subdivision_name1 = Tkvarcheli
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population_total = 4,786
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timezone = MSK
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Tkvarcheli ( _ab. Тҟəарчал, "Tqwarchal", _ka. ტყვარჩელი) is a town in Abkhazia. It is situated on the river Ghalidzga (Aaldzga) and the railroad connects it with Ochamchire.

History

Tkvarcheli became a town in 1942 as the coal-mining (that had started in its vicinity in 1935) grew in importance during the World War II as the major coal mines of Donbass were temporarily lost to the Germans.

During the War in Abkhazia (1992-3), Tkvarcheli withheld, through Russian humanitarian and military aid, an uneasy siege by the Georgian forces. Since 1995 it is the centre of the newly-formed Tkvarcheli district.

Industry

The coal-mining has been the town's main industry ever since although now the Soviet mines are closed and coal is quarried only by the Abkhaz-Turkish Tamsaş company using the open pit method. Tamsaş's tax payments account for 75% of the Tkvarcheli district's budget, however the company was criticised for neglecting environmental requirements. [ [http://www.abkhaziagov.org/en/news/detail.php?ID=2963 The Turkish Tamsas Can Resume Mining in Abkhazia If It Complies with Environmental Requirements] 09/11/2006 18:00, Official site of the President of Abkhazia] Construction of a new cement plant is planned now, its output to be used for the Olympic construction projects in Sochi. [ [http://www.abkhaziagov.org/ru/president/press/news/detail.php?ID=5286 Ткуарчал отметил 65-летний юбилей 20/04/2007 18:13, Official site of the President of Abkhazia] ] Georgiaregards all this investment as illegal, in clear violation of the 1996 CIS restrictions [http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=4377 Abkhazia Today.] "The International Crisis Group Europe Report N°176, 15 September 2006". Retrieved on September 30, 2007. "Free registration needed to view full report"] and has arrested several vessels, loaded with coal from Tkvarcheli, in its territorial waters, a measure that has reportedly brought Tamsaş to the verge of bankruptcy. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16107 Abkhaz MP: Georgia’s Sea Seizure Pose Threat to Abkhaz Coal Industry] . "Civil Georgia". October 26, 2007.]

Demography

The town's population was 21,744 in 1989. The three main ethnic groups were Abkhaz (42.3%), Russians (24.5%) and Georgians (23.4%). [ [http://www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru/rnabkhazia.html Abkhazia census statistics] ru icon] As a result of the War in Abkhazia the town's industries all but stopped and its population decreased greatly and was between 7,000 and 8,000 in 2004 according to some sources [ [http://undp.org.ge/news/feasibrepRUS.pdf Отчет миссии ПРООН по изучению возможностей Гальского района и смежных с ним территорий Абхазии, Грузия, Апрель 2004] ] and only 4,800 according to others. [ [http://www.abhazyatur.ru/tkvarcheli.shtml Абхазия - город Ткварчели ] ] According to the 2003 census data its population was 4,786.Fact|date=June 2007

References