[124] Eventually, Russia also withdrew its approval of the document. Constitution of Abkhazia - Wikipedia [75] The population of Abkhazia remains ethnically very diverse, even after the 19921993 war. Shevardnadze narrowly escaped death, after vowing to stay in the city no matter what. [131] The Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh rejected these new initiatives as "propaganda", leading to Georgia's complaints that this scepticism was "triggered by Russia, rather than by real mood of the Abkhaz people. [80], The campaign of ethnic cleansing also included Russians, Armenians, Greeks, moderate Abkhaz and other minor ethnic groups living in Abkhazia. [55] Georgian Communist Party leader Candide Charkviani supported the Georgianization of Abkhazia. During the Crimean War (18531856), Russian forces had to evacuate Abkhazia and Prince Michael (18221864) seemingly switched to the Ottomans. Abkhaz officials announced that a significant number of residents of Gali, Ochamchire and Tkvarcheli districts received Abkhaz passports while at the same time retaining their Georgian citizenship, which constituted a "violation of the law on Abkhaz citizenship". [74], Before the 1992 War, Georgians made up nearly half of Abkhazia's population, while less than one-fifth of the population was Abkhaz. This region was subsequently absorbed in 63BC into the Kingdom of Lazica. [citation needed], During the war, gross human rights violations were reported on both sides (see Human Rights Watch report). [71][123] However, the Abkhaz de facto government considers Abkhazia a sovereign country even if it is recognised by few other countries. Flag of the Principality of Abkhazia - Image by Jaume Oll, 3 November 2020. [210], In the first half of 2012, the principal trading partners of Abkhazia were Russia (64%) and Turkey (18%). [176][177], Russia does not allow the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to enter Abkhazia.[178]. [139] Abkhazia's foreign minister, Viacheslav Chirikba, criticised the status-neutral passports and called their introduction "unacceptable". [9], The written Abkhaz literature appeared relatively recently, in the beginning of the 20th century. [247] Independent international assessments suggest that these colleges train in about 20 different specialties attracting between 1000 and 1300 young people annually (aged between 16 and 29) (as of 2019, est.). [60] They justified their request by referring to the Leninist tradition of the right of nations to self-determination, which, they asserted, was violated when Abkhazia's sovereignty was curtailed in 1931. Moscow kills Boden paper, threatens to terminate UNOMIG in Georgia. The United Nations and other international organisations have been fruitlessly urging the Abkhaz de facto authorities "to refrain from adopting measures incompatible with the right to return and with international human rights standards, such as discriminatory legislation [and] to cooperate in the establishment of a permanent international human rights office in Gali and to admit United Nations civilian police without further delay. The autonomy of Abkhazia, which had functioned as a pro-Russian "buffer zone" in this troublesome region, was no longer needed by the Tsarist government and the rule of the Shervashidze came to an end; in November 1864, Prince Michael was forced to renounce his rights and resettle in Voronezh. Principality of Abkhazia . These people were not able to get Russian citizenship. Routledge, 2002. Principality of Abkhazia - Wikipedia [82], Of about 250,000 Georgian refugees, some 60,000 subsequently returned to Abkhazia's Gali District between 1994 and 1998, but tens of thousands were displaced again when fighting resumed in the Gali District in 1998. Principality of Abkhazia coat of arms.svg. [217] Other ethnicities include Ukrainians, Belarusians, Ossetians, Tatars, Turks, and Roma.[221]. According to Apsnypress, Stanislav Lakoba, secretary of Abkhaz security council, said that "We are facing the process of the total Georgianization of Abkhazia. [citation needed], The Abkhaz forces quickly overran the rest of Abkhazia as the Georgian government faced a second threat; an uprising by the supporters of the deposed Zviad Gamsakhurdia in the region of Mingrelia (Samegrelo). Russia deploys its own military units as part of the 7th Military Base in Abkhazia. [232], The languages spoken in Abkhazia are Abkhaz, Russian, Mingrelian, Svan, Armenian, and Greek. For example, the number of college students grew from few dozens in the 1920s to several thousands in the 1980s. The Russian language, equally with the Abkhazian language, shall be recognized as a language of State and other institutions. [105] The opposition claimed that the protests were sparked by poverty, but the main point of contention was President Ankvab's liberal policy towards ethnic Georgians in the Gali region. Local political parties and the coordination council of civil organisations expressed concern about Lakoba's dismissal. Following Kosovo's declaration of independence, the Russian parliament released a joint statement reading: "Now that the situation in Kosovo has become an international precedent, Russia should take into account the Kosovo scenario when considering ongoing territorial conflicts. According to Bagapsh, these were actually ethnic Abkhaz people who were "Georgianised" during the long process of the Georgianisation of Abkhazia that culminated during the rule of Joseph Stalin and Lavrenti Beria. [135][136] The law spells out restrictions on free movement and economic activity in the territories. The official position taken by the Wikimedia Foundation is that "faithful reproductions of two-dimensional public domain works of art are public domain".This photographic reproduction is therefore also considered to be in the public domain in the United States. By the middle of the 20th century, Sukhumi had become a home for large educational institutions (both higher education institutions and technical vocational education and training (TVET) colleges) and largest students' community in Abkhazia. [citation needed], Large areas of the region were left uninhabited and many Armenians, Georgians, Russians and others subsequently migrated to Abkhazia, resettling much of the vacated territory. [167], The OSCE has increasingly engaged in dialogue with officials and civil society representatives in Abkhazia, especially from non-governmental organisations (NGO)s and the media, regarding human dimension standards in the region and is considering a presence in Gali. After the assassination of this prince by his son Aslan-Bey on May 2, 1808, the pro-Ottoman orientation prevailed but for a short time. Bagapsh was re-elected as president with 59.4% of the total vote. After the death of the Abkhazian prince Zegnak circa 1700, his principality was divided among his sons. Under the rule of Stalin and Beria Abkhaz schools were closed, requiring Abkhaz children to study in the Georgian language. An Arab incursion into Abasgia, led by Marwan II, was repelled by Prince Leon I jointly with his Lazic and Iberian allies in 736. Law et al., pages 5658; Mikaberidze, Alexander, "Historical Dictionary of Georgia", Rowman & Littlefield, 2015, p.84, On Ruins of Empire: Ethnicity and Nationalism in the Former Soviet Union, pg 72, by Georgiy I. Mirsky, published by, The Guns of August 2008, Russia's War in Georgia, Svante Cornell & Frederick Starr, p. 27, US State Department, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993, February 1994, pp. Despite a 1994 ceasefire agreement and years of negotiations, the dispute remains unresolved. Size estimates vary diaspora leaders say 1million people; Abkhaz estimates range from 150,000 to 500,000. Anacopia was the principality's capital. The latest survey (as of March 2018) has measured the vertical extent of this cave system as 2,212 metres (7,257ft) between its highest and lowest explored points. [243][244][245], On 18 September 2013, the Parliament of Republic of Abkhazia adopted a resolution instructing the prosecutor's office to carry out a "sweeping" probe into passport offices of the interior ministry and where wrongdoings were found in the distribution of passports to refer those violations to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for "annulment of illegally issued passports." [citation needed], In the 12th century, King David the Builder appointed Otagho as an Eristavi of Abkhazia, who later became the founder of House of Shervashidze (also known as Chachba). [126] The United Nations has reaffirmed "the commitment of all Member States to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders" and outlined the basic principles of conflict resolution which call for immediate return of all displaced persons and for non-resumption of hostilities. Thus, the Principality of Abkhazia, which as one of the regions of Georgia became an autonomous unit of the russian Empire in 1810, only included the Black Sea Littoral from the River Khalidzga to the River Bzipi. Only a few countriesmost notably Russia, which maintains a military presence in Abkhaziarecognize its independence. Only the strong Russian reinforcements led by General Dmitry Ivanovich Svyatopolk-Mirsky were able to suppress the revolt by the same August. Those who are not ethnic Abkhazians are eligible for citizenship if they lived in Abkhazia for at least five years prior to adoption of act of independence in October 1999. When the Georgian kingdom was embroiled in a bitter civil war in the 1450s, the Sharvashidzes joined a major rebellion against King George VIII of Georgia, which saw him defeated at the hands of the rebels at Chikhori in 1463. [56] Peasant households from the rest of the Georgian SSR were resettled to Abkhazia. [200] Later, Nadareishvili's administration was implicated in some internal controversies and had not taken an active part in the politics of Abkhazia[citation needed] until a new chairman, Irakli Alasania, was appointed by President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, his envoy in the peace talks over Abkhazia. The demographics of Abkhazia were very strongly affected by the 19921993 war with Georgia, which saw the expulsion and flight of over half of the republic's population, measuring 525,061 in the 1989 census. The Georgian government dispatched 3,000 soldiers to the region, ostensibly to restore order. [citation needed] In fact, according to the official information from the Tennis portal.ru the highest career achievement of Amina Anshba was 278th place in the ranking among women in 2021[254][255]. It stipulates that a special permit on entry into the breakaway regions can be issued if the trip there "serves Georgia's state interests; peaceful resolution of the conflict; de-occupation or humanitarian purposes." Russia supported Raul Khadjimba, the prime minister backed by the ailing outgoing separatist President Vladislav Ardzinba. . [107], In November 2014, Vladimir Putin moved to formalise the Abkhazian military's relationship as part of the Russian armed forces, signing a treaty with Khajimba. [85], Presidential elections were held in Abkhazia on 3 October 2004. Language Label Description Also known as; English: Sefer Ali-Bey Shervashidze. [60] In June 1988, a manifesto defending Abkhaz distinctiveness (known as the Abkhaz Letter) was sent to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Many Abkhaz opposed this, fearing that an independent Georgia would lead to the elimination of their autonomy, and argued instead for the establishment of Abkhazia as a separate Soviet republic in its own right. [47], By official decision of the Russian authorities the residents of Abkhazia and Samurzakano had to study and pray in Russian. "[145] Initially Russia continued to delay recognition of both of these republics. [54] In the terror of 193738, the ruling elite was purged of Abkhaz and by 1952 over 80% of the 228 top party and government officials and enterprise managers were ethnic Georgians; there remained 34 Abkhaz, 7 Russians and 3 Armenians in these positions. [58] The Abkhazian ASSR was the only autonomous republic in the USSR in which the language of the titular nation (in that case Abkhazian) was confirmed in its constitution as one of its official languages.[59]. A Historical-Geographic Review of Modern Abkhazia [citation needed], The Republic of Abkhazia is divided into seven raions (districts) named after their primary cities: Gagra, Gudauta, Sukhumi, Ochamchira, Gulripshi, Tkvarcheli and Gali. In particular, according to the law, foreign citizens should enter the two breakaway regions only through Georgia proper. At the same time, the document reaffirmed the "commitment of all Member States to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders". Abkhazia - Wikipedia But they can first get an internal Abkhaz passport and then a travelling passport to visit Russia. The harsh Russian reaction led, subsequently, to a considerable emigration of the Abkhaz muhajirs to the Ottoman Empire, especially after the locals took part in the rebellion of the Caucasian mountaineers incited by the landing of Turkish troops in 1877. [citation needed], In the spring of 2014, the opposition submitted an ultimatum to President Aleksandr Ankvab to dismiss the government and make radical reforms. The first president Zviad Gamsakhurdia stoked Georgian nationalism and vowed to assert Tbilisi's authority over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia on 26 August 2008. "unprecedented illegal campaign". ", "Russian Federation: Legal Aspects of War in Georgia", "Abkhaz Decision on Passports Leaves Many Georgians in Gali Worried", "Sokhumi Suspends Issuing Abkhaz Passports to Ethnic Georgians", "Authorities in Abkhazia Plan to Strip Georgians of Citizenship", "Teachers in Abkhazia's Gali District Under Pressure To Give Up Georgian Language", " ", "Top Abkhazian security official dismissed", "Altnpost Abhazya Haberleri Abhazya Basketbol Milli Takm KKTC Milli Takmn 76-59 Yendi", "A World Cup for countries that are not actually countries", " - , ", " / Anshba, Amina - , - Tennisportal.ru", Michael Lambert (2020). The following is a list of political entities that formally recognise Abkhazia. It declared Abkhazia "mine free" in 2011. Mikhail, who was Orthodox Christian, came to power at a time when Abkhazia had only recently been declared a protectorate of Russia, as a result of the 1810 manifesto of Tsar Alexander I. Chervonnaia, Svetlana Mikhailovna. [234] As such, Abkhaz is the required language for legislative and executive council debates (with translation from and to Russian) and at least half of the text of all magazines and newspapers must be in Abkhaz. The Georgian side is "once again urged to address seriously legitimate Abkhaz security concerns, to avoid steps that could be seen as threatening and to refrain from militant rhetoric and provocative actions, especially in upper Kodori Valley. After Sefer AliBeys brother, AslanBey, killed his father to take over the throne of Abkhazia, Sef Venezuela recognised Abkhazia in September 2009. Chief of these are: Kodori, Bzyb, Ghalidzga, and Gumista. Abkhaz forces, with armed support from outside Abkhazia, launched attacks on Sukhumi and Ochamchira. The law covers the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (territories of former South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast). [217] The Department of Statistics of Georgia estimated Abkhazia's population to be approximately 179,000 in 2003, and 178,000 in 2005 (the last year when such estimates were published in Georgia). During the Crimean War of 1853-55, Abkhazia was invaded by Turkey . [202][203] The Abkhazian military is primarily a ground force, but includes small sea and air units. [1] Abkhazia remained part of Georgia after a peasant revolt supported by Bolsheviks and a Turkish expedition were defeated in 1918 and the 1921 Georgian constitution granted Abkhazia autonomy. On 3 September 1898 the Holy Synod issued order 4880 which decreed that those parishes where the congregation was Mingrelians i.e. [103] On 27 May 2014, in the centre of Sukhumi, 10,000 supporters of the Abkhaz opposition gathered for a mass demonstration. Rand Corporation, 2003. [209] Electricity is largely supplied by the Inguri hydroelectric power station located on the Inguri River between Abkhazia and Georgia (proper) and operated jointly by both parties. [224], Thousands of Abkhaz, known as muhajirun, were exiled to the Ottoman Empire in the mid-19th century after resisting the Russian conquest of the Caucasus. [147], Later in April 2008, Russia accused Georgia of trying to exploit NATO support in order to control Abkhazia by force and announced it would increase its military presence in the region, pledging to retaliate militarily against Georgia's efforts. They surrounded and heavily shelled the capital, where Shevardnadze was trapped. Keilash Bey seems to have been the first presiding prince of Abkhazia (circa 1780-1808) to embrace Islam, and was given, on this account, the fort of Suhum-Kale. [75] As the war progressed, confronted with hundreds of thousands of ethnic Georgians who were unwilling to leave their homes, the Abkhaz separatists implemented the process of ethnic cleansing in order to expel and eliminate the Georgian ethnic population in Abkhazia. [134], In late October 2008 President Saakashvili signed into law legislation on the occupied territories passed by the Georgian Parliament. [citation needed], The Abkhazian Armed Forces are the military of the Republic of Abkhazia. 120, Conflict in the Caucasus: Georgia, Abkhazia, and the Russian Shadow by S. A. Chervonnaia and Svetlana Mikhailovna Chervonnaia, pp 1213. [75] By the time of the 2011 census, Georgians formed the second-largest minority group with a number of 46,455. Later on, the Russian presence strengthened and the highlanders of Western Caucasia were finally subjugated by Russia in 1864. The Republic of Georgia boycotted the 17 March 1991 all-Union referendum on the renewal of the Soviet Union called by Gorbachev; however, 52.3% of Abkhazia's population (almost all of the ethnic non-Georgian population) took part in the referendum and voted by an overwhelming majority (98.6%) to preserve the Union. Classical authors described various peoples living in the region and the great multitude of languages they spoke. Abkhazia, also spelled Abkhaziya, autonomous republic in northwestern Georgia that formally declared independence in 1999. [235] During the Soviet era, language instruction would begin in schools in Abkhaz, only to switch to Russian for the majority of required schooling. So in his official speeches, Bagapsh often added the Gali Georgians to population estimates of the Abkhaz, disregarding the fact that they still thought of themselves as ethnic Georgians rather than Abkhaz. [149] Following a unanimous resolution that was passed by both houses of the parliament calling on the Russian president to recognise independence of the breakaway republics,[150] Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, officially recognised both on 26 August 2008. Conflict in the Caucasus: Georgia, Abkhazia and the Russian Shadow. [1], There are two main entrances into Abkhazia. There are several periglacial and crater lakes in mountainous Abkhazia. [20], A common spelling in the English language before the 20th century was Abhasia.[21][22]. The Kingdom of Abkhazia , also known Egrisi-Abkhazia, was a medieval feudal state in the Caucasus which was established in the 780s. Faultlines of Conflict in Central Asia and the South Caucasus: Implications for the U.S. Army. Emmanuel Karagiannis. "[141], During the GeorgianAbkhaz conflict, the Russian authorities and military supplied logistical and military aid to the separatist side. The document did not state any reason for the decision but Lakoba saw it as related to his political position on granting citizenship to Georgians living in Gali. Abkhazia[n 1] (/bkzi/ (listen) ab-KAH-zee-),[5] officially the Republic of Abkhazia,[n 2] is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. [86] Posters of Russia's President Vladimir Putin together with Khadjimba, who, like Putin, had worked as a KGB official, were everywhere in Sukhumi. [99][100], Since independence was recognised by Russia, a series of controversial agreements were made between the Abkhazian government and the Russian Federation that leased or sold a number of key state assets and relinquished control over the borders. The tense situation in the republic led to the cancellation of the election results by the Supreme Court. Abkhazia joined the Russian Empire as an autonomous principality, in 1810. Several tennis players from Sukhumi participated as the national competitions in Russia and played at major international competitions under the Russian flag. It urged the leadership of the Abkhaz side to address seriously the need for a dignified, secure return of refugees and internally displaced persons and to reassure the local population in the Gali district that their residency rights and identity will be respected. Only a small region of eastern Abkhazia, the upper Kodori gorge, remained under Georgian control (until 2008). 47-2008: El Presidente de la Repblica de Nicaragua", " ", "Georgia Severs Relations With Syria For Recognizing Abkhazia, South Ossetia", "Vanuatu's recognition to the Republic of Abkhazia", "Georgia Says Vanuatu Has Withdrawn Recognition of Abkhazia", "Statement of the Georgian Foreign Ministry regarding the establishment of diplomatic and consular relations", "Factbox Key facts on Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia", "Passports & International Travel: Country Information: Georgia: Embassy Messages", "Official advice for New Zealanders living and travelling overseas: Georgia", "President of Abkhazia Re-elected by Wide Margin", "Abkhazia President Sergei Bagapsh dies at 62", "Kremlin announces that South Ossetia will join "one united Russian state", "How people in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transnistria feel about annexation by Russia", Inside Abkhazia: A Survey of Attitudes in a De Facto State, "The speech by Tamaz Nadareishvili, chairman of the Supreme Council of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic, delivered at the session of Georgian Parliament", "Russland legitimiert Beziehungen zu Abchasien und Sdossetien", "Russian Military Forces: Interactive Map", "Putin Sparks Georgia Fury With 'Annexation' Deal in Abkhazia", "No Clear Frontrunner as Abkhazia Goes to Poll", " ", "Op-ed: Abkhazia will have to transfer its power system to Russia or live without electricity", "Russian Federation Withdraws from Regime of Restrictions Established in 1996 for Abkhazia", "Russia expands economic ties with Abkhazia, Georgia angry, CIS idle", " 2009 20%", " 2009 ", " ", Circassians in Turkey rally for their rights, . [234] Even in Georgian-speaking areas of the Republic, ending schooling in that language has resulted in teachers switching to Russian-language materials instead of Abkhaz-language teaching. : apkhazetis samtavro) emerged as a separate feudal entity in the 15th-16th centuries, amid the civil wars in the Kingdom of Georgia that concluded with the dissolution of the unified Georgian monarchy.

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