Abkhazia

The Caucasus mountains on the north and northeast divide Abkhazia from Circassia; on the southeast it is bounded by Mingrelia; and on the southwest by the Black Sea. Though the country is generally mountainous, with dense forests of oak and walnut, there are some deep, well-watered valleys, and the climate is mild. The soil is fertile, producing wheat, maize, grapes, figs, pomegranates and wine. Cattle and horses are bred. Honey is produced; and excellent arms are made. In the 1st millennium BC (9th-6st centuries BC) the territory of modern Abkhazia was a part of the Westgeorgian Kingdom of Kolkha (Colchis). In the 6th century BC-63 BC Abkhazia was a part of the Kingdom of Egrisi. In 63 BC-4th century AD Abkhazia was under ruling of the Roman Empire. In the 4th-7th centuries AD Abkhazia was part of the Georgian Kingdom Egrisi (territory of the former Kinjgdom of Kolkha) again. In the 7th-9th centuries Abkhazia (Abazgia) was under ruling of the Byzantine Empire as a autonomous Principality. In the 10th-14th centuries Abkhazia was part of the united Georgian Kingdom. In the 14th-16th centuries this region was part of the Georgian Kingdom of Imereti. In the 16th century the region was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and became partially Muslim. Since 16th century the autonomous Principality of Abkhazia (Abkhazetis Samtavro in Georgian) was ruled by the dynasty of Sharvashidze. The Russians acquired possession of it piecemeal between 1829 and 1842, but their power was not firmly established until after 1864. Large numbers emigrated to the Turkish empire in 1864 and 1878 as a result of Russian oppression. Russians and Georgians arrived in the years which followed. After the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, Abkhazia gained a measure of autonomy until Stalin, who liked to holiday there, incorporated it into Georgia in 1931. It was still called an autonomous republic but there was very little sign of genuine autonomy while Stalin was alive. Georgian became the official language and the Abkhaz language and cultural rights were repressed. Many Georgians were resettled there. The repression eased substantially after Khrushchev came to power in the Kremlin.

Abkhazia inhabited primarily by Georgians (Mingrelians (Megrels) who are ethnic Georgians. 48% of its 500,000 population ) and Abkhazians (17%), Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia on July 23, 1992, though this was not internationally recognized. Civil strife followed in 1992-1993, in which Abkhazian guerilla forces helped by Russian regular forces and paramilitaries from the Northern Caucasus drove out newly established Georgian National Guard units and led to independence of the country. This led to a campaign of ethnic cleansing directed against the Georgian settlers, resulting in some 10,000 casualties and about 300,000 people fleeing their homes.

On 15 May 1994 a ceasefire agreement and Russian troops provided a peace-keeping force.

A new constitution adopted on 4 November 1994 declared Abkhaz sovereignty. Elections were held on 23 November 1996 but these were not recognised by the Georgian government or the international community. The CIS imposed economic sanctions in January 1996.

• President: Vladislav Ardzinba since 1994
• Prime Minister: Raul Khadjimba since 2003

Pro-Georgian legal Government in exile (Tbilisi)

• Chairman of the Supreme Council: Tamaz Nadareishvili since 1994
• Prime Minister: Londer Tsaava since 1998
• Abkhaz Flag

See also: Abkhaz language

Referenced By