Officials in Abkhazia have reiterated that a national treasure such as Joseph Stalin’s former dacha on the shores of Lake Ritsa cannot be sold into private hands. The statement came from Beslan Kvitsinia, who heads Abkhazia’s state dacha administration, and was conveyed through the information office Apsadgyl. Kvitsinia’s comments were sparked by circulating footage in the media in which an unidentified party claimed to have purchased a summer residence at auction for 850 thousand rubles with plans to develop a resort aimed at Moscow VIP visitors.
According to the speaker for the summer houses program, the rumor is not accurate, and this latest rumor is not a fresh development but another iteration of an older story about the property. The institution has emphasized that no such private sale or intended resort development has been authorized or confirmed by the authorities.
The dacha in question sits on the northern shore of Lake Ritsa, within the boundaries of the Ritsa relic national park in the Gudauta region. This region is part of a broader portfolio of historic state properties that Abkhazia has maintained as part of its cultural and historical landscape. The authorities have signaled their intent to balance conservation with the possibility of controlled public access, aiming to ensure that such landmarks remain accessible for education, research, and tourism in a way that respects their historic significance.
Beyond the Lake Ritsa site, Abkhazia has identified a cluster of other state-owned dachas that were built during the 1935–1947 period to accommodate high-ranking Soviet officials. These properties include locations along the Kholodnaya River in the Gagrsky district, in the city of New Athos, in the village of Myussera, and in Sukhumi. The inventory of these historic estates reflects a broader approach to preserving architectural heritage while evaluating opportunities for responsible cultural tourism and regional development.
In December 2023, the Abkhazian Parliament approved a formal agreement concerning the transfer of a state lodge in Pitsunda to the Russian Federation. The document stipulates that the property would pass to Russian ownership without any charge, while a land plot exceeding 180 hectares would be leased for 49 years with a symbolic annual payment of 1 ruble per hectare. The arrangement illustrates ongoing negotiations surrounding the management and future use of historic properties, and it has drawn attention to issues of sovereignty, heritage stewardship, and cross-border relations in the region.
Meanwhile, conversations surrounding Stalin’s family continued to surface in public discourse. Reports circulated that Joseph Stalin’s grandson, Selim Bensaad, had passed away in November. Media outlets covering the Lipki-Alekseevskoye estate, where the elder Stalin resided in the early 1930s, indicated that Bensaad’s spokesperson addressed the news. The comments suggested that Bensaad hoped the new owners of the property would preserve the Stalin brand and legacy in a respectful manner, reflecting a broader interest in how the legacy of the era is managed for future generations. Attribution for these remarks was provided by Vadim Gorzhankin, a press attaché, who spoke with media representatives to clarify the family’s position and expectations for the property’s stewardship.
Earlier reports also noted that Stalin’s dacha had yielded unsettling discoveries in the past, including the discovery of two corpses on site in separate incidents. These incidents have contributed to the enduring aura and controversy surrounding the historic residence and its surrounding estate portfolio. The current stance of Abkhazian authorities emphasizes preservation, transparent governance, and the avoidance of sensationalization that could threaten the cultural and historical value of these sites. Citations and statementsATTRIBUTED to local officials indicate a careful approach to any proposed changes, ensuring that public interest and heritage protection remain central to decision-making.