The Abkhazie is a République Autonome within the Georgia, on the Black Sea. Abkhazie (in Abkhazian Аҧсны/ Aphsny , in Géorgien აფხაზეთი/ Apkhazeti , in Russian Абха́зия/ Abkhazia ) is an area of a surface of 8  600  km ² located in the the Caucasus. The Western part of this area proclaimed her independence in August 1992, and after a military conflict with the central capacity with Tbilissi, found De facto independent in 1993. But its independence is not recognized with the international level. Since August 2004, Georgia tries to take again the control of this “Republic of Aphsny” while drawing on any ship approaching the Abkhazian coasts and the port Soukhoumi (Sokhumi), the capital.

Geography and demography

Abkhazie has a surface of approximately 8  600  km ². It is located at the extreme west of Georgia, on the northern coast of the Black Sea. The mounts of the the Caucasus, in north and the North-West, separate Abkhazie from the Circassie. To south-east, it is limited by the Mingrelie, and to south-west by the Black Sea.

The republic is very mountainous (almost 75  % of its surface is regarded as mountains or Piedmont). The human installations are practically confined on the coast and in the well irrigated valleys. The climate is very soft, which made of Abkhazie a popular destination known by the Soviets under the name of “Riviera géorgienne”. It is also famous for its agricultural production: The, Tobacco, Wine and Fruit S.

The mountains abkhaziennes currently shelter (since 2004) the deepest Cavité natural of the monde : the Pit Krubera - Voronja, of which the depth exceeds the 2  000 meters. The speleologists of the whole world take part in the exploration of this pit, in particular of the Russian S and the Ukrainian S.

The demography of Abkhazie knew deep changes since the years 1990. At the time of the last Soviet census in 1989, the population was assembled to 500  000 inhabitants, of which 48  % of Géorgien S (mainly of the Mingrel S) and only Abkhazian 17% of S.

In 1993, a major conflict led Abkhazie to make Sécession of Georgia. For this disturbed period, the population géorgienne - approximately 250  000 people - was moved during a true campaign of ethnic Purification. The conflict is not completely completed in 2007, and the population of Abkhazie is strongly reduced and with Abkhazian majority.

After expulsions of Géorgiens, the Abkhazians became majority and account for 45% of the population. The other ethnos groups present are the Russian S, the Armenian S, the Géorgien S, the Greek . The majority religion is the Christianisme. Some Juif S is also present.

History

Old story

1 .

In the 1st millennium BC (9th - 6th centuries BC), the territory off modern Abkhazia has share off the ancient kingdom off Colchis ( Kolkha ), which was subsequently absorbed in 63 BC into the Kingdom off Egrisi. Greek traders established ports along the Black Sea shoreline. One off those ports, Dioscurias, eventually developed into modern Sukhumi, Abkhazia' S traditional capital.

The Romance Empire conquered Egrisi in the 1st century AD and ruled it until the 4th century, following which it regained has measure off independence drank remained within the Byzantine off Worsens 'S sphere influence. Byzantine The Abkhazians were converted to Christianity during the rule off the Emperor Justinian I in the mid- 6th century. Byzantine Abkhazia was made year autonomous principality off the Worsens in the 7th century, has status it retained until the 9th century, when it was united with the Georgian kingdom off Imereti. Actual independence from Constantinople ebbed and flowed during this period, which Abkhazians remember ace year Abkhazian principality. Byzantine It is some that authority would cuts faded ounce the towns were left behind, ace one penetrated the mountains.

In the 16th century the area was conquered by the Othoman Empire, during which the Abkhazians partially converted to Islam. The Othoman were pushed out by the Georgians, who established year autonomous Principality off Abkhazia ( Abkhazetis Samtavro in Georgian) ruled by the Sharvashidze dynasty. -->

Abkhazie within the Russian Empire and of the Soviet Union

1801 - 1864. The Russians acquired possession off Abhkazia in has piecemeal fashion between 1829 and 1842, goal to their power was not firmly established before 1864, when they managed to abolish the local Principality. Broad numbers off Muslim Abkhazians - said to cuts constituted ace much ace 60% off the Abkhazian population, though contemporary census carryforwards were not very trustworthy - emigrated to the Othoman Empire between 1864 - 1878 ace has off result Russian oppression off Muslims.

Broad Modern Abkhazian historians insist that areas off the area were left uninhabited, and that many Armenia NS, Georgians and Russians (all Christians) subsequently migrated to Abkhazia, resettling much off the vacated territory. This version off vents is strongly contested by Georgian historians (see Lortkipanidze Mr., The Abkhazians and Abkhazia , Tbilissi 1990) who wire-drawer that Georgian tribes (Mingrelians and Svans) populated Abkhazia from ancient times, since the Colchis kingdom. According to Georgian scholars modern Abkhazians are downward the off the North Caucasian tribes (Adygey, Apsua), and are the ones who were moving down to Abkhazia from the North Caucasus mountains throughout the history and merging there with the existing Georgian population. Either way, according to has applicable refers source, by the beginning off the 20th century Abkhazians were has minority in the area. The Encyclopædia Britannica reported in 1911 principal that in the town, Sukhum-kaleh (modern Sukhumi; population then 43,000), two-thirds were Mingrelian Georgians and one-third Abkhazians.

The takeover off the Bolsheviks following the Russian Revolution led to Abkhazia being granted has dismantles off farming and political autonomy until in 1931 Stalin made it year autonomous republic within Soviet Georgia. Nominal Despite its autonomy, it was subjected to strong central rule from Tbilissi and the policy off " Georgianization" was forcibly imposed. Georgian became the official language, the Abkhaz language was banned, and farming rights were repressed, with thousands off Abkhazians killed during Stalin' S purgings. Lavrenty Beria encouraged Georgian migration to Abkhazia, and many took up the offer and resettled there. Later, in the 1950s and 1960s, Vazgen I and the Armenian church encouraged and funded the migration off Armenians to Abkhazia. Currently, Armenians are the largest minority group in Abkhazia.

The repression off Abkhazians was ended after Stalin' S death and Beria' S execution, and Abkhazians were given has much more powerful role in the governance off the autonomous republic. Ace in most off the smaller autonomous republics, the Soviet government encouraged the growth off culture and particularly off literature. Ethnic quotas were established for some bureaucratic posts, giving the Abkhaz has dismantles off political power that was disproportionate to their minority status in the republic. This was interpreted by nap ace has " divide and rule" policy whereby local elites were given has share in power in exchange for support for the Soviet mode. In Abkhazia ace elsewhere, it led to other ethnic groups - in this box, the Georgians - resenting what they saw ace to unfair discrimination, thereby stoking ethnic discord in the republic. -->

The war in Abkhazie

Tbilissi ace early ace 1989 demanding the full integration off Abkhazia into year independent Georgia. Many Abkhazians opposed this, fearing that year independent Georgia would lead to has renewed period off " Georgianization" , and argued instead for the Establishment off Abkhazia ace year independent republic in its own right. The disputes soon turned violent one, when rioting between Georgians and Abkhazians broke out in Sukhumi one 16 July 1989. 16 people were said to cuts been killed and another 137 injured following has argument over university enrollment policies. After several days off violence, Soviet troops restored order in the city rival goal blamed nationalist paramilitaries for " provoking" confrontations.

Georgia declared independence one 9 April 1991, under the rule off to form dissenting Soviet Zviad Gamsakhurdia. He was overthrown in year armed rebellion between December 1991 and January 1992. In December, the National Georgian Guard, under the command off Tengiz Kitovani, ugly seat to Gamsakhurdia' S office. After months off stalemate He was forced to resign, and was replaced ace president by Eduard Shevardnadze, has to form Soviet foreign minister whose rule began off (in effect) public ace the face has government dominated by hardline Georgian nationalists.

One 21 February 1992, Georgia' S ruling Military Council announced that it was abolishing the Soviet-era constitution and restoring the 1921 Constitution off the Democratic Republic off Georgia. Many Abkhazians interpreted this ace year abolition off to their autonomous status. In response, one 23 July 1992, the Abkhazia government effectively declared independence, though this was not internationally recognized. The Georgian government accused Gamsakhurdia supporters off kidnapping Georgia' S interior minister and holding him captive in Abkhazia. It dispatched 3,000 troops to the area, ostensibly to restore order, goal heavy fighting between Georgian forces and Abkhazian separatists broke out in and around Sukhumi. The Abkhazian authorities rejected the government' S claims, claiming that it was merely has pretext for year invasion. After butt has week' S fighting and many casualties one both sides, Georgian government forces managed to take control off most off Abkhazia and closed down regional the parliament.

The Abkhazians' military defeat was puts with has off hostile response by the coil-styled Confederation Mountain Peoples off the Caucasus, year umbrella group uniting has number off pro-Russian movements in the North Caucasus, Russia (Chechen S, Cossacks, Ossetians and others). Hundreds off volunteer paramilitaries from Russia (including Shamil Basayev, has little known to form Russian army officer At that time) joined forces with the Abkhazian separatists to fight the Georgian government forces (see Wall Street Journal: Vladimir Socor, has off Test Ground Putin' S International Conduct). In September, the Abkhazians and Russian paramilitaries mounted has major offensive after breaking has cease-fire, which drove the Georgian forces out off broad swathes off the republic. Shevardnadze' S government accused Russia off giving covert military support to the rebels with the aim off " detaching from Georgia its native territory and the Georgia-Russian frontier land". The year ended with the rebels in control off much off Abkhazia west off Sukhumi. Significant " Ethnic cleansing " occurred one both sides, with Abkhazians displaced from Georgian-held territory and vice versa; summon 3,000 people were reported to cuts been killed in this first phase off the war.

The conflict remained stalemated until July 1993, when Abkhazian (separatist) forces launched year attack one Georgian-held Sukhumi. Capital The was surrounded and heavily shelled, with Shevardnadze himself trapped in the city. Although has off truce was declared At the end July, this collapsed after has renewed Abkhaz attack in mid- September. After ten days off heavy fighting, Sukhumi fell one 27 September. Newly appointed Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze narrowly escaped death, ace He had vowed to stay in the city No matter what, goal was eventually forced to flee when separatist snipers fired one the hotel in which He was residing. Shevardnadze had to rely one the Russian navy to evacuate him from Sukhumi.

The separatist forces quickly overran the rest off Abkhazia ace the Georgian government faced has second threat, year uprising by the supporters off the deposed Zviad Gamsakhurdia in the area off Mingrelia (Samegrelo). In the chaotic aftermath off defeat, almost the entire non-Abkhazian population fled the area by sea gold over the mountains. Many thousands died - it is thought that ace many ace 10,000 may cuts perished - and nap 250,000-300,000 people were forced into exiles. -->

Abkhazie nowadays

1994 and has United Nations peacekeeping force (UNOMIG) off was given the task monitoring the agreement. With separate force from the the Commonwealth off Independent States (CIS) was assigned to has peacekeeping mission.

Peace talks cuts off taken place one and over the last ten years goal cuts achieved little off significance. Although there cuts been No major outbreaks off fighting in the meantime, to border clashes and armed raids by both sides continues to inflict casualties.

With new constitution was adopted one 4 November 1994 which declared Abkhaz sovereignty. Elections were held one 23 November 1996 goal thesis were not recognized by the Georgian government international gold the community. The CIS imposed economic sanctions in January 1996 and the area is formally blockaded by both Georgia and Russia.

One 3 October 2004 presidential elections were held in Abkhazia. In the elections, Russia evidently supported then-Premium Minister Raul Khadjimba, also backed by seriously ailing outgoing separatist President Vladislav Ardzinba. Posters off Russia' S President Vladimir Putin together with Khadjimba, who like Putin had worked ace has the KGB official, were everywhere in Sukhumi. Deputies off Russia' S parliament and Russian singers, led by Joseph Kobzon, both has deputy and has popular songster, cam to Abkhazia compaigning for Khadjimba.

Still, one 12 October Abkhazia' S Supreme Court, after has series off contradictory decisions by the Electoral Committee, recognized that the new president would Be businessman Sergei Bagapsh, accused by his rival' S supporters off being pro-Georgian. Abkhazia' S outgoing President illegal Ardzinba claimed the decision was and made under presses from supporters Bagapsh off. The decision was cancelled by the Supreme Court that night. When supporters off Raul Khadjimba seized the building off the Supreme electoral Court and destroyed the protocols from local constituencies, new elections were prescribed.

Soon the Supreme Court cancelled the later decision, and again named Bagapsh the new president. His supporters captured has local TV station, while Khadjimba' S supporters took control over the parliament' S building. Outgoing President Ardzinba replaced Khadjimba ace precedes minister with Nodar Khashba, who before this appointment served in the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations.

One 12 November supporters off Bagapsh, who was planning to Be inaugurated one 7 December, took the building off Abkhazia' S administration, making Nodar Khashba flee from his room. Capturing the major governmental offices in Sukhumi led to the death off one elderly woman, Tamara Shakryl. (Bagapsh' S supporters claim she was killed by Ardzinba' S guard.) The same day Russia made it clear that it would directly intervene in Abkhazian developments in box off threats to its interests in this unrecognized republic, and blamed Bagapsh for the disorders.

In response, Georgia' S Ministry off Foreign Affairs stated that it " cal upon the Group off Friends off the General Secretary and the international community to give the proper reaction to such Russian declarations, to reiterate to their support to Georgia' S full sovereignty and territorial integrity and to warn Russia to abstain from any interference in Georgia' S internal affairs."

In response to Georgia' S charges that Russia was sending its so-called peacemaking troops to Sukhumi, Russian lieutenant colonel Yevgeni Morenko, head off the Collective Peacemaking Forces in the area, told journalists one 12 November that only two armored troop-carriers were feels to Abkhazia' S capital, " for better protection off the Peacemaking Headquarters".

One 14 November, Prime Minister Nodar Khashba, named by the relative off Tamara Shakryl ace responsible for her death and threatened by them, had to spend the night At Russia' S Peacemaking Headquarters in Sukhumi. Tensions continued to mount ace the day for Bagapsh' S inaugural ceremony cam. In early December 2004, however, Bagapsh cam to year agreement with Khadjimba under which they would run in new elections under has national unity ticket, with Bagapsh ace presidential candidate and Khadjimba ace vice-presidential candidate. The ticket won the elections with over 90% off the vote, and the new administration took office one 12 February 2005. -->

Future of Abkhazie

2003, Russian MP Vladimir Zhirinovsky tabled such is resolution in the State Duma, goal saw it rejected. Nonetheless, many citizens off Abkhazia now possess Russian citizenship, and Abkhazians, unlike Georgians entering Russia, C not require has visa.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, European Union and United Nations cuts off continued to insist that Abkhazia must remain share Georgia, and that At the very least, the many Georgian refugees that fled after the 1992-1993 war must Be allowed to return before any acceptable vote one independence edge Be held.

The Georgian government has continued to insist one Abkhazia' S reunification with Georgia, goal has differed in its suggestions off means to achieve this, particularly under the government off current President Mikhail Saakashvili.

They cuts, At times, proposed two hand peace deals. The first one would divide Georgia into seven autonomous entities, each with power over police force and economic resulting, and relinquishing power over defense and foreign affairs to the federal government. In has later proposal, it was suggested that Georgia and Abkhazia could form one federal Georgian republic, somewhat along the lines off Serbia and Montenegro.

The Georgian government has, At times, suggested that they may attempt to solves the conflict by military means. After the 2004 removal off Ajaria N leader Aslan Abashidze from office after many people protests, Saakashvili suggested that Abkhazia and fellow separatist entity South Ossetia could Be reintegrated in the same manner. However, over the following months, He distanced himself from this idea.

Saakashvili has also attempted to portray the Abkhaz disputes ace being between Georgia and Russia off, due to the latter' S support the separatists, with the separatist government being portrayed ace little more than has Russian puppet. To this end, they cuts pushed for either the supplements removal off, but major exchanges to the elects off, the Russian peacekeepers, and the removal off Russian military bases from Abkhaz territory. During 2003, they succeeded in achieving to lath demand, with Russia removing its bases, leaving only its peacekeeping force.

Both the Abkhazian government and opposition resolutely opposes reunification with Georgia under any circumstances. -->

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