Abkhazia
Between the 9th and 6th centuries BC, the territory of modern Abkhazia formed part of the ancient Kingdom of Colchis. Around the 6th century BC, Greek traders established colonies along the Black Sea coast at Pitiunt and Dioscurias. Classical authors like Arrian, Pliny, and Strabo described various peoples living in this region and noted the great multitude of languages they spoke. The Roman Empire conquered Lazica in the 1st century AD, though their presence remained confined to port cities. A small Roman outpost existed in Dioscurias, where Abasgoi likely served in the Ala Prima Abasgorum regiment stationed in Egypt. An Eastern tradition holds that Simon the Zealot died during a missionary trip and was buried in Nicopsis before his remains were transferred to Anacopia. After the 4th century, Lazica regained some independence while remaining within the Byzantine Empire's sphere of influence. Anacopia became the principality's capital, and the country was mostly Christian with the archbishop's seat located in Pityus. Stratophilus, the Metropolitan of Pityus, participated in the First Council of Nicaea in 325.
Russia annexed Abkhazia in 1864 after subjugating the highlanders of Western Caucasia. In November 1864, Prince Mikhail Hamud-Bey Sharvashidze-Chachba was forced to renounce his rights and resettle in Voronezh, Russia. Large numbers of Muslim Abkhazians, said to have constituted as much as 40% of the population, emigrated to the Ottoman Empire between 1864 and 1878. This process known as Muhajirism left large areas of the region uninhabited. Many Armenians, Georgians, Russians, and others subsequently migrated to Abkhazia to resettle the vacated territory. By official decision of Russian authorities, residents had to study and pray in Russian. On the 17th of March 1898, the synodal department prohibited teaching and religious services in Georgian. Mass protests by the Georgian population followed, reaching the Russian emperor. The Holy Synod issued Order 4880 on the 3rd of September 1898, allowing Mingrelian parishes to conduct services in Georgian while Abkhazian parishes used old Slavic. Tedo Sakhokia demanded that Abkhazian and Georgian languages be introduced into church services but faced a criminal case for his efforts.
In 1921, the Bolshevik Red Army invaded Georgia and made Abkhazia a socialist Soviet republic with ambiguous status. Under korenizatsiia policy, the Abkhaz received benefits like schooling in their language, establishing an official literary language for the first time. Between 1922 and 1926, the share of Abkhaz increased from 19.8% to 27.8% of the population. Meanwhile, the proportion of ethnic Georgians decreased from 42% in 1922 to 36% in 1926. In 1931, Joseph Stalin made it an autonomous republic within the Georgian SSR. During the Terror of 1937, 38, the ruling elite was purged of Abkhaz, and by 1952 over 80% of top officials were ethnic Georgians. Starting from 1939, peasant households from the rest of the Georgian SSR were resettled to Abkhazia, changing its demographic makeup significantly. Abkhaz schools closed in 1945, 1946, requiring children to study in the Georgian language. The post-war period saw Abkhazians dominate governance despite making up only 17.8% of the region's population while Georgians comprised 45.7%. Ethnic Abkhaz occupied 41% of seats in the Supreme Soviet and 67% of republican ministers.
On the 21st of February 1992, Georgia's ruling military council announced it was abolishing the Soviet-era constitution and restoring the 1921 Constitution. Many Abkhaz interpreted this as an abolition of their autonomous status. On the 23rd of July 1992, the Abkhaz faction declared effective independence from Georgia, though the session was boycotted by ethnic Georgian deputies. War broke out in August 1992 when the National Guard of Georgia entered Abkhazia with the goal of freeing captive Georgian officials. Abkhaz troops were the first to open fire according to Darrell Slider. The Abkhaz separatist government retreated to Gudauta where a Russian military base was located. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported ethnic-based violence against Georgians in Gudauta. The Abkhaz were relatively unarmed at the time, allowing Georgian troops to march into Sukhumi with little resistance. They subsequently engaged in ethnically based pillage, looting, assault, and murder. The Abkhaz military defeat met with a hostile response from the Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus. This umbrella group included Circassians, Abazins, Chechens, Cossacks, Ossetians, and hundreds of volunteer paramilitaries from Russia.
Before the 1992 war, Georgians made up nearly half of Abkhazia's population while less than one-fifth was Abkhaz. As the war progressed, Abkhaz separatists implemented ethnic cleansing to expel the Georgian ethnic population. About 5,000 were killed, 400 went missing, and up to 250,000 ethnic Georgians were expelled from their homes. More than 20,000 houses owned by ethnic Georgians were destroyed. Hundreds of schools, kindergartens, churches, hospitals, and historical monuments were pillaged and destroyed. Following mass expulsion, the population of Abkhazia reduced from 525,000 in 1989 to 216,000 in 2012. Pogroms against ethnic Georgians continued even after the war ended as late as February 1995. Of about 250,000 Georgian refugees, some 60,000 returned between 1994 and 1998 but tens of thousands were displaced again when fighting resumed in 1998. Between 40,000 and 60,000 refugees have returned since 1998 including persons commuting daily across the ceasefire line. Key officials of the Gali District are virtually all ethnic Abkhaz though their support staff remain ethnic Georgian.
Presidential elections held on the 3rd of October 2004 saw Russia support Raul Khajimba who lost to Sergei Bagapsh. A deal was struck for them to run jointly with Bagapsh as president and Khajimba as vice-president receiving over 90% of votes. In July 2006, Georgian forces launched a police operation against Emzar Kvitsiani in the Kodori Valley bringing it back under central government control. Sporadic violence continued throughout postwar years despite peacekeeping status of Russian troops. Russian support became pronounced when the ruble became de facto currency and Russia began issuing passports to the population. Georgia accused Russia of violating airspace by sending helicopters to attack towns in the Kodori Gorge. On the 9th of August 2008, Abkhazian forces fired on Georgian forces in Kodori Gorge coinciding with the South Ossetia war. An estimated 9,000 Russian soldiers entered Abkhazia ostensibly to reinforce peacekeepers. About 1,000 Abkhazian soldiers moved to expel residual Georgian forces within Upper Kodori Gorge. By the 12th of August Georgian forces and civilians had evacuated the last part of Abkhazia under Georgian control.
Russia recognized independence of Abkhazia on the 26th of August 2008 following the Russo-Georgian War. This led to annulment of the 1994 ceasefire agreement and termination of UN and OSCE monitoring missions. On the 28th of August 2008, Parliament of Georgia passed a resolution declaring Abkhazia a Russian-occupied territory. Since recognition by Russia, controversial agreements were made leasing or selling key state assets and relinquishing border control. In May 2009 opposition parties protested these deals claiming they undermined sovereignty. Vice-president Raul Khajimba resigned on the 28th of May agreeing with criticism from opposition groups. A conference nominated Khajimba as candidate for December 2009 election won by Sergei Bagapsh. Political developments continued through 2014 when President Aleksandr Ankvab faced an ultimatum to dismiss government. On the 27th of May 2014, 10,000 supporters gathered in Sukhumi center storming Ankvab's headquarters forcing him into flight. Valery Bganba appointed acting president before early elections held the 24th of August 2014. Raul Khajimba elected president taking office September 2014.
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Common questions
When did the territory of modern Abkhazia form part of the ancient Kingdom of Colchis?
The territory of modern Abkhazia formed part of the ancient Kingdom of Colchis between the 9th and 6th centuries BC. Greek traders established colonies along the Black Sea coast at Pitiunt and Dioscurias around the 6th century BC.
What happened to Muslim Abkhazians after Russia annexed Abkhazia in 1864?
Large numbers of Muslim Abkhazians emigrated to the Ottoman Empire between 1864 and 1878 following the Russian annexation. This process known as Muhajirism left large areas of the region uninhabited before other groups migrated to resettle the vacated territory.
How did the population demographics change in Abkhazia during the Soviet period from 1922 to 1952?
Between 1922 and 1926, the share of Abkhaz increased from 19.8% to 27.8% of the population while ethnic Georgians decreased from 42% to 36%. By 1952 over 80% of top officials were ethnic Georgians despite Abkhazians dominating governance with only 17.8% of the region's population.
Why did the war break out in August 1992 involving Georgia and Abkhaz forces?
War broke out in August 1992 when the National Guard of Georgia entered Abkhazia with the goal of freeing captive Georgian officials. The Abkhaz separatist government retreated to Gudauta where a Russian military base was located after Abkhaz troops opened fire first according to Darrell Slider.
What were the consequences of the 1992 war on the population of Abkhazia by 2012?
The population of Abkhazia reduced from 525,000 in 1989 to 216,000 in 2012 due to mass expulsion and violence against Georgians. About 5,000 people were killed, 400 went missing, and up to 250,000 ethnic Georgians were expelled from their homes during the conflict.
When did Russia recognize independence of Abkhazia following the Russo-Georgian War?
Russia recognized independence of Abkhazia on the 26th of August 2008 following the Russo-Georgian War. This recognition led to the annulment of the 1994 ceasefire agreement and termination of UN and OSCE monitoring missions.