Narayan Mahon: Land in Limbo

Lands in Limbo is an ongoing project that focuses on unrecognized or de-facto states. These countries exist in a political and social limbo, waiting for international recognition, which includes the possibilities of international investment and an inclusion in international organizations, which comes with certain security guarantees. Recognition is not just political; it is also recognition of a group's self-determination and individual culture. This project begins with the breakaway states in the former Soviet Union, primarly in the Caucasus region, Abkhazia, Nagorno Karabakh and Transdniestra.

Nagorno Karabakh (pictures 1-10)
In 1989, as the former Soviet Union was collapsing, the constituent republics also began to disintegrate, and in Soviet Azerbaijan, ethnic clashes between the Armenian minority and the Azeri majority began. Six years and 30,000 lives later, a tenuous cease-fire was negotiated, but a true peace negotiaion has yet to become reality. Now, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), a quasi-state, now 100% Armenian following the forced and massive exodus of an estimated 750,000 Azerbaijanis, has an elected president, parliament, and military. However, regardless of all the trapping of statehood, no other nation recognises their sovereignity, making international investment illusive, leaving state agency coffers empty and an unemployment rate over 50%, the people continue to suffer, long after the end of the war. Now, the de-facto state struggles to gain the recognition crucial to their national survival.

Transdniestra (pictures 11-17)
Transdniestra (PMR), wedged between Ukraine and Moldova, broke away from Moldova amid fears of a possible reunion with Romania following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989. Transdniestra (Pridniestrovian Moldovan Republic), now exists in a de-facto status, not recognized by any other nation in the world, unable to trade legally due to its status, its Mafioso government survives on illegal arms dealing and is a reputed leader in human trafficking. PMR is the last bastion of Soviet style government, complete with a Supreme Soviet, Lenin statues and Hammer and Sickle emblems on all things government, including its national flag. While not being considered a legitimate nation, PMR distributes its own passports (although all citizens also hold either Moldovan or Russian passports) and national currency, both of which are worthless beyond its "borders". Unlike other de-facto states, PMR is in no hurry to be integrated into the international community, instead preferring to benefit from its lawless, "black hole" status.

Abkhazia (pictures 18-34)
Abkhazia is a separatist region that broke away from Georgia durin the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. It has since declared independence, built a national military and created the usual trappings of a sovreign government. However, no country in the world recognizes it as a sovereign country, regarding it rather as still being part of Georgia. In the breakaway war tens of thousands were killed and several houndred thousand Georgian and Megrelian citizens were forced to leave Abkhazia. Regardless of the forced departures of so many people, the Abkhaz still don't hold a clear majority of the population. Given its de-facto status, Abkhaz endure embargoes and a lack of foreign capital, both contributing to the massive unemployment rate which plagues the country.