Shifting Translocational Positionalities in Contested States: Ukrainians in Transnistria and Georgians in Abkhazia before and after Russia’s all-out war on Ukraine

This paper explores the evolving positionalities of two groups: the Ukrainians living in Transnistria (about 25% of the population) and the Georgians residing in Abkhazia (20% of the population) since the regions’ respective separations from Moldova and Georgia in the early 1990s. From ceasefire agreements up to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the status and political positioning of these two specific groups have shifted considerably, thus calling for theoretical and empirical investigations. Building on Anthias’ translocational framework, the paper theorises these positionalities as processual and multi-scalar, shaped simultaneously at the local, national, and transnational levels. The contested nature of the national scale in both contexts offers an interesting analytical angle, especially when considered alongside transnational dynamics and the involvement of international actors providing various forms of support. Drawing on (legal) documents analysis and qualitative data, including interviews, observations and focus groups, this paper aims to provide a comparative and interactionist account of how positionalities have fluctuated across three decades. It identifies some of the key factors shaping these shifts, including local and national elections and leadership changes, citizenship and passport policies, and, at the international level, the role of regional organisations, international donors, and humanitarian actors.