Abkhazia

**Abkhazia** (Georgian: აფხაზეთი – _Apkhazeti_, Abkhaz: Аҧсны – _Apsny_, Russian: Абха́зия – _Abkhaziya_) is an unrecognized country in the Caucasus.

### 1990s

The country fought a war with Georgia for its independence in 1991, the Georgian–Abkhaz conflict. Since its declaration of independence from Georgia in 1991, it has been ruled by the partially recognized **Republic of Abkhazia**.

### 2000s

Georgia believes Abkhazia is part of its territory and has listed the province in its official subdivisions as an autonomous republic. On 28 August 2008, the Parliament of Georgia passed a resolution declaring Abkhazia a "Russian-occupied territory". The Republic of Abkhazia, with Sokhumi as its capital, is formally recognized by Russia and by Nicaragua, and the _de facto_ independent republics of South Ossetia and Transnistria. The European Union, OSCE and NATO recognize Abkhazia as an integral part of the territory of Georgia.

The secessionist movement of the Abkhaz minority led to the Georgian–Abkhaz conflict. The War in Abkhazia resulted in a Georgian military defeat and the mass exodus and ethnic cleansing of the Georgian population from Abkhazia. There was a 1994 ceasefire agreement. There is a UN-monitored and Russian-dominated CIS peacekeeping operation. The sovereignty dispute has not been resolved. The dispute is a source of conflict between Georgia and Russia.

## Related pages

- Gagra
- Sokhumi
- Pitsunda

## Infobox (country)

- **native name**: <span style="line-height:1.33em;"> / _Apsny_ <small>(Abkhaz language, Abkhaz)</small>
აფხაზეთი / _Apkhazeti_ <small>(Georgian language, Georgian)</small>
 Абхазия / _Abkhaziya_ <small>(Russian language, Russian)</small></span>
- **conventional long name**: <span style="line-height:1.33em;">Republic of Abkhazia</span>
- **common name**: Abkhazia
- **language**: Abkhaz language, Abkhaz, Russian language, Russian, Megrelian language
- **national anthem**:
 __

- **image flag**: Flag of the Republic of Abkhazia.svg
- **image coat**: Abkhazia COA.svg
- **symbol type**: Coat of arms
- **image map**: Abkhazia detail map2.png
- **map caption**: Map of Abkhazia
- **image map2**: Europe location ABX.png
- **map caption2**: Location of Abkhazia
- **capital**: Sokhumi
- **latd**: 43
- **latm**: 00
- **latns**: N
- **longd**: 41
- **longm**: 59
- **longew**: E
- **largest city**: capital
- **official languages**: Abkhaz language, Abkhaz, Russian language, Russian
- **languages type**: Non-official languages
- **languages**: Georgian language, Georgian, Mingrelian language, Mingrelian, Armenian language, Armenian,
- **demonym**: Abkhaz, Abkhazian
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary republic
- **leader title1**: President of Abkhazia, President
- **leader title2**: Vice President of Abkhazia, Vice President
- **leader title3**: Prime Minister of Abkhazia, Prime Minister
- **leader name1**: Badra Gunba
- **leader name2**: Beslan Bigvava
- **leader name3**: Alexander Ankvab
- **sovereignty type**: Partially recognized independence from Georgia (country), Georgia and the Soviet Union
- **established event1**: Georgian annulment of all Soviet-era laws and treaties
- **established event2**: Declaration of sovereignty
- **established event3**: Georgian declaration of independence
- **established event4**: History of the Soviet Union (1985–1991)#Formation of the CIS and official end of the USSR, Dissolution of Soviet Union
- **established event5**: Reinstatement of 1925 Constitution
- **established event7**: Abkhazian constitutional referendum, 1999, Referendum
- **established event6**: Constitution of Abkhazia, New Constitution
- **established event8**: Act of state independence
- **established event9**: International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, First international recognition
- **established date1**: 20 June 1990
- **established date2**: 25 August  1990
- **established date3**: 9 April 1991
- **established date4**: 26 December 1991
- **established date5**: 23 July 1992
- **established date7**: 3 October 1999
- **established date6**: 26 November  1994
- **established date8**: 12 October 1999
- **established date9**: 26 August 2008
- **area km2**: 8,432
- **area sq mi**: 3,256
- **population estimate**: Between 157,000 and 190,000
180,000
- **population census**: 243,000
- **population census year**: 2015
- **population density km2**: 29
- HDI_category
- **currency**: Russian ruble
- **currency code**: RUB
- **time zone**: Moscow Time, MSK
- **utc offset**: +3
- **drives on**: right
- **footnote1**: Russian has :wikisource:Constitution of Abkhazia, co-official status and widespread use by government and other institutions.
- **footnote2**: Mingrelian language, Mingrelian is spoken largely in the Gali district.
- **footnote3**: Anulled by the Georgian Soviet immediately after.
- **footnote4**: Establishing retro-actively de jure independence since the War in Abkhazia (1992-1993), 1992-1993 war.
- **footnote5**: By Russia. Only since followed by Nicaragua.
- **footnote6**: International Crisis Group 2006 estimate.
- **footnote7**: Encyclopædia Britannica 2007 estimate.
- **footnote8**: De facto currency, several commemorative coins in Abkhazian own currency, Abkhazian apsar (:ru:Апсар) were issued.