Works on improvement of Sukhumi Fortress launched

The works on the improvement of the Sukhumi Fortress will be completed by the beginning of July. After that the fortress will be able to resume archaeological excavations, said Batal Kobakhiya, Deputy Minister of Culture and Preservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage of Abkhazia.

At this stage, it is planned to clear the territory around the fortress walls of bushes and shrubs, clean the walls of harmful plants, trim the excavation dumps, as well as to fence off the open part of the fortress and sections of earlier studied structures.

According to the municipal department of the city administration, the works in the fortress will be carried out till the Sukhumi Day of the City, dated to the 500th anniversary, that is, on the first Saturday of July 2016, the "Sputnik-Abkhazia" reports.

"The state of Sukhumi Fortress is deplorable; the unique monument of culture is degrading," the "Apsnypress" quotes Mr Kobakhiya as saying.

According to his story, the territory of the fortress is now guarded, "but this is not enough." If the guarding is properly organized, the Sukhumi Fortress will have great prospects; in particular, it will be possible to conduct large-scale archaeological excavations and conservation and restoration works, said the deputy minister.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.