Abkhazia

The flag of Abkhazia consists of seven horizontal stripes alternating green (top and bottom) and white, with a red canton with an arch of seven stars above a red, open hand.
Pro-Georgian government in exile of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia uses the flag of Georgia.
==Symbolism==
The design of the red canton is based on the banner of the mediaeval Abkhazian Kingdom.
The green stripes stand for Islam, the white stripes stand for Christianity, and their combination symbolises tolerance that allows the two religions cohabit in the region.
Official interpretation of the colours is as follows: the green represents life, and the white represents bright future.State Symbols on the site of the President of Abkhazia
The seven stars stand for the seven historical regions of Abkhazia: Sadzen (Dzhigetia), Bzyp, Gomaa, Abzhwa, Samurzaq'an, Dal-Ts'abal, Pshoy-Aybga.
The flag is based on the one of the North Caucasian Federation.
==Other flags of Abkhazia and Abkhazians==
Image:Abkhazia (President).png|President's flag
Image:Abkhazia (army).png|Flag of the armed forces
Image:Abkhazia (naval).svg|Flag of the Navy fleet
Image:Abkhaz diaspora in Turkey.png|Flag of the Abkhaz diaspora in Turkey
==History==
Abkhazia was formed as a Soviet socialist republic in 1921. In 1931 it became an autonomous Soviet socialist republic within Georgia. In 1925-1951 the flag of Abkhazia was a red banner with the name of the republic in golden lettering in Abkhazian, Russian, and Georgian languages.
In 1951, when Georgian SSR adopted a new flag, its flag became flown in Abkhazia without any modifications.
In 1978 the republic adopted a flag: the flag of Soviet Georgia with golden lettering "АҦСНЫ АССР" (AP’SNI ASSR, "Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic") or "АҦ.АССР" (AP’.ASSR) below the blue square.
In 1989 the congress of Abkhaz people adopted a flag without Georgian symbolism, and decided to drop the word "autonomous" from the official name of the republic. It was not recognised by the authorities of Georgia.
On August 25, 1990 the Supreme Council of the republic passed the Declaration of Sovereignty, thus proclaiming its independence from Georgia, which was not recognised by Georgia itself.
The current flag designed by Valeriy Gamgia won a flag contest in 1991 and was adopted by the Supreme Council of the Republic on July 23, 1993.Symbols of Abkhazia on Adgil's site (http://adgil.narod.ru/geraldika.htm)
Image:Abkhazia 1925.svg|SSR of Abkhazia, 1925 – 1927
Image:Abkhazia 1927.png|Abkhaz SSR (since 1931 — ASSR), since March 1927
Image:Abkhazia 1935.png|Abkhaz ASSR, January 7, 1935 – 1937
Image:Abkhazia 1937.png|Abkhaz ASSR, August 2, 1937 – 1951
Image:Georgia 1951.svg|Flag of the Georgian SSR was flown in 1951-1978
Image:Abkhazia 1978.png|Abkhaz ASSR, November 3, 1978 – 1991
Image:Abkhazia 1978 (variant 2).png|Variant of the previous flag
Image:Abkhazia 1989.png|Abkhaz SSR, 1989 – 1993
Image:Abkhazia.svg|Republic of Abkhazia, since July 23, 1993
== Nickname ==
* Abkhazian Stars and Stripes
==References==
Category:Disputed territories
Category:Georgia
Category:Proportions 1-2
Category:Stars and stripes
Category:Abkhazia
Category:Asia
Category:Flags
Category:Europe
Category:Hands
Category:Canton
Category:Green
Category:White
Category:Red