Abkhazia | |
|---|---|
 physical map of Abkhazia | |
| Capital and largest city | Sukhumi 43°00′N 40°59′E / 43.000°N 40.983°E |
| Native languages | Abkhaz, Armenian, Georgian, Homshetsi, Mingrelian, Russian |
| Government | disputed |
| Governing authority disputed | |
| 9 April 1991 | |
| 23 July 1992 | |
| Area | |
• Total | 8,432 km2 (3,256 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Estimate | Between 157,000 and 190,0001 180,0002 |
• 2003 census | 216,000 |
• Density | 29/km2 (75.1/sq mi) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2009 estimate estimate |
• Total | $500 million[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (MSK) |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +7-840,940; +995-44 [2] |
| |
Republic of Abkhazia | |
|---|---|
| Anthem: ["Aiaaira"] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) ("Victory") | |
 Abkhazia (orange) is situated west of Georgia proper (grey) | |
| Capital and largest city | Sukhumi 43°00′N 40°59′E / 43.000°N 40.983°E |
| Official languages | Abkhaz and Russian.1 |
| Demonym(s) | Abkhaz, Abkhazian |
| Government | Unitary republic |
| Sergei Bagapsh | |
| Alexander Ankvab | |
| Sergei Shamba | |
| Partially recognised independence from Georgia and the Soviet Union[3][4][5] | |
• Georgian annulment of all Soviet-era laws and treaties | 20 June 1990 |
• Declaration of sovereignty2 | 25 August 1990 |
| 1991 | |
• Georgian declaration of independence | 9 April 1991 |
| 26 December 1991 | |
• Reinstatement of 1925 Constitution | 23 July 1992 |
• Retro-actively declared date of independence | 30 September 1993 |
| 26 November 1994 | |
| 3 October 1999 | |
• Act of state independence3 | 12 October 1999 |
| 26 August 2008 | |
| Currency | Abkhazian apsar, Russian ruble5 (RUB) |
| |
Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
 Abkhazia as defined by the Government of the Republic of Georgia | |
| Capital | Sukhumi (de jure) Sukhumi (1992-1993) Tbilisi (1993-2006) Chkhalta (2006-2008) Tbilisi (since 2008) |
| Official languages | Abkhaz and Georgian |
| Government | |
• Chairman, Cabinet of Ministers | Giorgi Baramia |
• Chairman, Supreme Council | Temur Mzhavia |
| Autonomous republic of Georgia | |
April 9, 1991 December 25, 1991 | |
| Currency | Georgian lari (GEL) |
Abkhazia (Abkhaz: Аҧсны Apsny, Georgian: აფხაზეთი Apkhazeti, Armenian: Աբխազիա, Megrelian: აბჟუა Abzhua,[6] Russian: Абха́зия Abkhazia) is a political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus whose status is disputed. The de facto government considers the territory an independent state under the name of the Republic of Abkhazia.[7][8][9][10] This independence is recognised by United Nations member states Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru,[11] and also by South Ossetia and Transnistria.[12]
The Georgian government and the majority of the world's governments consider Abkhazia an integral part of Georgia's territory.[13] In Georgia's official subdivision structure it is an autonomous republic under the name of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia (Georgian: აფხაზეთის ავტონომიური რესპუბლიკა, apkhazetis avt'onomiuri resp'ublik'a, Abkhaz: Аҧснытәи Автономтәи Республика, Apsnitwi Avtonomtwi Respublika), whose government sits in exile in Tbilisi. On 28 August 2008, the Parliament of Georgia passed a resolution declaring Abkhazia a "Russian-occupied territory".[14][15]
The status of Abkhazia is a central issue of the Georgian–Abkhazian conflict. The wider region formed part of the Soviet Union until 1991. As the Soviet Union began to disintegrate towards the end of the 1980s, ethnic tensions grew between Abkhaz and Georgians over Georgia's moves towards independence. This led to the 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia that resulted in a Georgian military defeat, de facto independence of Abkhazia and the mass exodus and ethnic cleansing of the Georgian population from Abkhazia. In spite of the 1994 ceasefire agreement and years of negotiations, the status dispute has not been resolved, and despite the long-term presence of a United Nations monitoring force and a Russian-dominated CIS peacekeeping operation, the conflict has flared up on several occasions. In August 2008, the sides again fought during the South Ossetia War, which was followed by the formal recognition of Abkhazia by Russia, the annulment of the 1994 cease fire agreement and the termination of the UN and CIS missions.[citation needed]
- ^ http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/news/37913.html
- ^ "Abkhazia remains available by Georgian phone codes". Today.Az. 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ Site programming: Denis Merkushev. "Акт о государственной независимости Республики Абхазия". Abkhaziagov.org. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
- ^ "Апсныпресс - государственное информационное агенство Республики Абхазия". Apsnypress.info. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
- ^ "Abkhazia: Review of Events for the Year 1996". UNPO. 1997-01-31. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
- ^ Otar Kajaia, 2001–2004, Megrelian-Georgian Dictionary (entry abzhua).
- ^ Olga Oliker, Thomas S. Szayna. Faultlines of Conflict in Central Asia and the South Caucasus: Implications for the U.S. Army. Rand Corporation, 2003, ISBN 0833032607
- ^ Abkhazia: ten years on. By Rachel Clogg, Conciliation Resources, 2001
- ^ Emmanuel Karagiannis. Energy and Security in the Caucasus. Routledge, 2002. ISBN 0700714812
- ^ GuardianUnlimited. Georgia up in arms over Olympic cash
- ^ Barry, Ellen (2009-12-15). "Abkhazia Is Recognized — by Nauru". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
- ^ "Абхазия, Южная Осетия и Приднестровье признали независимость друг друга и призвали всех к этому же" (in Russian). Newsru. 2006-11-17. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
- ^ Tiny Nauru recognises Georgia's other rebel enclave, 16 December 2009
- ^ Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia declaring Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories, 28 August 2008.
- ^ Abkhazia, S.Ossetia Formally Declared Occupied Territory. Civil Georgia. 2008-08-28