27 years pass since loss of control of Abkhazia, fall of Sokhumi
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. Photo: Mike Goldwater
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The Georgian national flag is flying at half-mast today as 27 years ago on September 27 more than 250,000 Georgians were sent fleeing from their homes as Georgia lost control of the region of Abkhazia, which is currently occupied by Russia.
Paying tribute to the victims of the armed conflict that lasted 13 months and 13 days, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said ‘no war has victors’ as the war is ‘a tragedy for all each of us'.
Today 20 percent of our territory is occupied, therefore, we should spare no efforts on a daily basis to ensure that our children live together in the economically strong, fair, European, educated state – this is our obligation to our children and I am sure we will do that together with the Abkhaz [people]”, PM Gakharia said.
What happened 27 years ago?
The armed conflict began on August 14,1992 when Georgia's Armed Forces aimed to defend the Sochi-Enguri section of the railway and 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 on the ground.
Flags were lowered at the administrative building of the Government of Georgia since late yesterday. Photo: PM's press office
On July 27, 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, leading to the end of the war.
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 remains of 13 people who went missing during the 1992–93 armed conflict in Georgia’s Russia-occupied Abkhazia region have been identified and returned to their families. It was possible to identify the bodies of eight military servicemen and five civilians through the joint efforts of the Georgian State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
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.
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.
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).