Google Maps adds “Autonomous” before “Republic of Abkhazia” following Georgia’s request
Tweet 
Share
Abkhazia – one of the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia – is now being referred to as the ‘Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia’ instead of ‘Republic of Abkhazia’ on Google Maps after one Georgian internet user challenged the online spelling.
The change, which the Google Maps administration has already approved, was initiated by Giorgi Balakhadze.
After adding the word "autonomous” in the name of the region, Google Maps also closed it for further corrections, meaning from now on Abkhazia will always be referred to as an autonomous part of Georgia and not an independent republic.
Earlier Balakhadze asked for another change on Google Maps, which also was approved. Upon his request, the capital city of Abkhazia was now being referred to as ‘Sokhumi’ instead of ‘Sukhumi’, using Georgian spelling.
Abkhazia is situated in the north-western corner of Georgia. Russia recognised it as an independent state in 2008, immediately after the five-day Russia-Georgia war over Georgia’s other breakaway region, Tskhinvali region (often incorrectly referred to as South Ossetia).
This move of Russia has been assessed numerous times as a "violation of international law” by the global community.
The capital city of Abkhazia – one of the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia – is now being referred to as ‘Sokhumi’ instead of ‘Sukhumi’ on Google Maps after one Georgian internet user challenged the online spelling.
If Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region and Venezuela sign a visa free travel agreement, this will be a blatant violation of international law, says official Tbilisi.
On September 12 the UN approved the change of spelling for five places in Georgia after being approached by the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the UN.
Minister Paata Zakareishvili fronted media today and said one option currently being discussed to settle the conflict with breakaway Abkhazia, in the northwest of Georgia, might entail offering the region a special status within Georgia.
Leaders of Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia region plan to introduce visa regimes for states that refuse to recognise it as an independent state.
The location and operation details of 70 recently new agricultural cooperatives in Georgia’s Adjara region are now available on Google maps.
Adding Georgian to Google speech recognition system means that some powerful Google products, including Voice Search, the Assistant and Gboard which is capable of typing up entire messages based on what is dictated to it, can now be enjoyed by about 4 million Georgians in their native language.