21 years since fall of Sokhumi in Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia
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It's been 21 years since the capital city of Georgia's breakaway region Abkhazia fell as a result of a war that lasted for 13 months and 13 days.
Armed conflict in Abkhazia started on August 14, 1992, when Georgia's Armed Forces intending to defend the Sochi-Ingiri railway part were confronted by the Abkhaz Gvardia (armed forces) who were created under the order of the Head of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, Vladislav Ardzinba, near Okhurei village in Ochamchire district.
In response, the State Council of Georgia made the decision to send the National Gvardia in Abkhazia in accordance with the preliminary agreement made with Ardzinba.
This confrontation served as a reason for the outbreak of hostilities in Abkhazia. The war ended on September 27, 1993, when Sokhumi fell and Georgian Armed Forces lost the fight.
Earlier on September 16, the Abkhazian side violated the 27 July Sochi agreement on Ceasefire and Separation of Forces and began an attack on Sokhumi.
The Abkhaz-Russian forces started attack on the building of the Council of the Ministers of Abkhazia in the morning of September 27 and after capturing Chairman Zhiuli Shartava, Mayor of Sokhumi Guram Gabeskiria and 27 employees of the Council of Ministers, shot them all dead.
The Russian-Abkhaz joint armed forces took up positions alongside Enguri river on September 30. Since then the de-facto Abkhaz government celebrates the day of victory over Georgia and Independence Day of Abkhazia every year on September 30.
According to inconclusive data by the Georgian side, in 1992-1993 more than 10,000 Georgian soldiers and civilians died in Abkhazia while 300,000 people became internally displaced. The Abkhaz side reported 3,500 Abkhazians died and 2,000 were wounded in the conflict.
Georgia is commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the Abkhazia war, which after the clash saw Abkhazia become a breakaway region of Georgia.
The European Union (EU) has assessed the "presidential elections” in Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia as non-constitutional and illegal.
International society says it did not recognise the "presidential elections” in Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia and assessed the event as "non-constitutional and illegal”.
A new high-profile hospital is earmarked to be built in western Georgia near the administrative border of Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia, offering treatment to Georgian and Abkhazian citizens.
Holding presidential elections on Georgia’s territory represents harsh neglect of international law and an attempt to legitimize the existing occupation, says the Georgian President.
"We are ready to talk to anyone who holds the position of de-facto leader of Abkhazia,” said Georgian Dream Member of Parliament and Council of Europe representative Tinatin Khidasheli, despite Georgia not recognising last weekend's election.
The newly-elected president of Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia wants Georgia to "finally realise Abkhazia’s existence as an independent state is a reality”.
The de-facto Foreign Minister of Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia is demanding changes to the Geneva Talks, which are a formal way where Georgian and Abkhaz authorities can discuss humanitarian affairs.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister is attending the 69th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and meeting world officials to raise awareness and support for the issues facing some of Georgia’s most vulnerable citizens.
A ceremony was held yesterday, September 25, that declared Raul Khajimba as the region’s president for the next five years.
President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili lied a wreath at the memorial of the heroes fallen in the fight for unity at the Heroes' Square in Tbilisi and expressed his condolences to their families.
The country’s Prime Minister is remembering those who died while serving their country at the 21st anniversary of the fall of Sokhumi which led to Abkhazia becoming a breakaway region of Georgia.
Georgia has assessed the recent decision of the de-facto president of the country’s breakaway Abkhazia region about planning to fortify its so-called administrative border with Georgia as a "violation of human rights”.
A Kremlin proposed new treaty on ‘Alliance and Integration’ with Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia and Russia will be signed by the end of this year, Abkhazia’s de-facto leader Raul Khajimba announced.
Georgian authorities condemned the proposed treaty believed such an agreement was a "violation” of the fundamental principles of international law and commitment.
A Kremlin proposed treaty on to enhance the relationship between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia has been condemned by Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili.
International community supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, US Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland while commenting the issue of Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia in Batumi.
Georgia is remembering those who died serving their homeland as the country marks 22 years since the fall of Sokhumi, the capital city of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia.
September 27, 1993 was the day when tens of thousands of people died, hundreds of thousands of people became internally displaced (IDPs) within their own homeland, and Tbilisi lost control of Abkhazia region in north-western Georgia.
September 27, 1993 was the day when tens of thousands of people died, hundreds of thousands of people became internally displaced (IDPs) within their own homeland, and Tbilisi lost control over the Abkhazia region in north-western Georgia.
A personal account of the people fleeing the destructive 1990s war in the Georgian region of Abkhazia is now available to readers in Czech, after prized author Guram Odisharia’s story The Pass of the Refugees was presented in Prague on Monday.
On this day 25 years ago hundreds of thousands of Georgians were forced to leave their homes in Georgia's western breakaway Abkhazia region, thousands of people died and Tbilisi lost control of Abkhazia region.
Demonstrators demanding the annulment of the results of the de facto presidential elections in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region and the resignation of the current, de facto President Raul Khajimba have broken into the so-called presidential administration building in Sokhumi earlier today.