26 years pass since loss of control of occupied Abkhazia
Due to the armed conflict in Abkhazia between 13,000 to 20,000 ethnic Georgians and approximately 3,000 Abkhaz have been reported killed, more than 250,000 Georgians became internally displaced. Photo: Mike Goldwater.
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On this day 26 years ago thousands of Georgians were forced to leave their homes in Georgia's western Russian-occupied Abkhazia region, thousands of people died and Tbilisi lost control of Abkhazia region.
Commemorating the tragic date Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said that peace is of critical importance to both Georgians and Abkhazians.
For all citizens of today's Georgia, regardless of their age, this day, September 27, marks the day when Sokhumi ( a main town of Abkhazia) fell 26 years ago. Of course, both we and Abkhazians have learned a lot and have grown since. We share many bonds, and what binds us is the understanding and acknowledgement that the war was the most devastating tragedy. And that is the foundation allowing us to say that peace is critically important to both Georgians and Abkhazians,” Gakharia said.
He stated that it is important for every citizen of the country to understand that war is not a solution “and that tireless efforts, continued building the country and democratic institutions, and a strong and unified Georgia is what we must serve together.”
People forced to leave Abkhazia region. Photo:Mike Goldwater.
The armed conflict lasted 13 months and 13 days.
Armed conflict in Abkhazia began on 14 August 1992 when Georgia's Armed Forces, intending to defend the Sochi-Enguri section of the railway, were confronted by Abkhaz Gvardia [armed forces].
The Abkhaz militant group involved Russian soldiers and was 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 decided to send the National Gvardia [another soldier unit controlled by Tbilisi] to Abkhazia to challenge the militant group.
This confrontation sparked the beginning of hostilities in Abkhazia.
Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia said that building the country and non-stop work will lead to the reintegration of the occupied regions. Photo: Prime Minister's press office.
On 27 July 1993 both sides agreed to the ‘Sochi Agreement on Ceasefire and Separation of Forces’ however about two months later, on September 16, 1993, the Abkhaz violated the ceasefire agreement and began an attack on Sokhumi.
The Abkhaz-Russian forces started their attack on the building of the Council of Ministers of Abkhazia in the morning of September 27, 1993. They captured and killed Chairman Zhiuli Shartava, Sokhumi Mayor Guram Gabeskiria and 27 employees of the Council of Ministers.
On the same day Sokhumi collapsed and the Georgian Armed Forces lost the fight. This was the end of the war.
Due to the conflict:
- Between 13,000 to 20,000 ethnic Georgians and approximately 3,000 Abkhaz have been reported killed, more than 250,000 Georgians became internally displaced or refugees and about 2,000 are considered missing.
- Among the missing about 1,500 are ethnic Georgians, up to 200 are ethnic Abkhaz and about 100 are ethnic Ossetians.
The so-called parliament of Georgia’s occupied region of Abkhazia has passed a bill in its first reading which strips a group of Georgian citizens of their right to receive their inheritance in the region.
A new grant programme ‘Produce for a Better Future’ will soon be launched in Georgia within the peace initiative ‘A Step to a Better Future’ in order to encourage trade across the occupation lines.
Residents of Georgia’s occupied region of Abkhazia region brought 53-year-old deceased Gocha Tupuria near the Otobaia-Orsantia bridge earlier today for his relatives standing on the other side of the bridge to mourm, as they were deprived of the right to enter the occupied territory, Radio Atinati reports.
The central Georgian government has simplified the procedure to receive a Georgian passport for individuals residing in the Georgian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
A "ground-breaking" exhibition will bring photographs, videos and other material from both sides of the Georgian-Abkhaz divide to explore the devastating early 1990s conflict in a Tbilisi display starting this Friday.
Monuments of Zhiuli Shartava and Guram Gabeskiria, former officials who were killed by Abkhaz separatist groups in 1993, will be placed in Tbilisi, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has stated earlier today.
Twenty-eight years have passed since the armed conflict in Georgia’s Russia-occupied region of Abkhazia. The Abkhaz war lasted 13 months and 13 days and ended with the loss of the capital of Abkhazia, Sokhumi, on September 27, 1993, which was preceded by negotiations between Georgia and Abkhazia with the mediation of Russia. On July 27, 1993 the Sochi agreement was signed but Abkhaz forces violated the terms and opened fire while Georgian troops were withdrawing from the region.