PM highlights “foundational” role of peace on anniversary of fall of capital of occupied Abkhazia

Garibashvili stressed his Government was “firmly following” the path of peaceful resolution of the conflict, and noted the future belonged to “unity, peace and prosperity of Abkhazians and Georgians". Photo: PM's press office

Agenda.ge, 27 Sep 2023 - 12:11, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said peace was “the foundation upon which a united, strong and developed country should be built” together with the “Abkhazian and Ossetian brothers”, in comments marking the 30th anniversary of the fall of Sokhumi, the capital of the Russian-occupied north-western region of Abkhazia during the war in the region in 1993.

Garibashvili offered his condolences to the family members and relatives of those killed during the 1992-1993 conflict and called the fall of the city “one of the most dramatic moments” in the country’s modern history.

The war left a heavy mark on our country, ethnic cleansing made hundreds of thousands of people displaced in their own homeland [...] [and] tragically claimed the lives of many of our fellow citizens. De-occupation of the regions occupied by Russia and unification of the country continue to be the main challenge of our state and society”, the PM said.

Garibashvili stressed his Government was “firmly following” the path of peaceful resolution of the conflict, and noted the future belonged to “unity, peace and prosperity of Abkhazians and Georgians".

The armed conflict in Abkhazia began on August 14, 1992 following an entrance of Government forces of a newly independent Georgia into the region with the goal of defending a section of a strategically important railway in the region amid tensions between ethnic Abkhazians and Georgians, with the Government units confronted by Abkhaz paramilitary forces on contact.

The resulting year-long-conflict saw Russian material, tactical and operational support for Abkhaz forces, in addition to mercenary groups from the Caucasus republics of Russia also fighting against troops of the fledgling Georgian state.

The regional capital of Sokhumi fell after the Abkhaz side violated a ceasefire agreement between the sides on July 27, 1993 and launched an assault on the city on September 16, after the Georgian side had withdrawn most of its defences as per the agreement.

On September 27, the attacking troops captured and killed Zhiuli Shartava, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Abkhazia, as well as Sokhumi Mayor Guram Gabeskiria and 27 other Georgian officials of the executive body who had stayed in the offices of the regional Government in the city, with the event marking the fall of the capital.

Between 13,000 to 20,000 ethnic Georgians and approximately 3,000 Abkhaz have been reported killed during the conflict, which lasted for 13 months and 13 days. Over 250,000 Georgians fled the region and became internally displaced in the country, while more than 2,000 - including about 1,500 ethnic Georgians, up to 200 ethnic Abkhaz and about 100 ethnic Ossetians -  were declared missing.