Flag of Abkhazia

Abkhazia is claimed and controlled by the partially recognized Republic of Abkhazia, and functions as a de facto independent Abkhazian state. Georgia, the United Nations and the majority of the world's governments consider Abkhazia to be part of Georgia, legally governed by the de jure Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
== Republic of Abkhazia ==
The flag of the Republic of Abkhazia was created in 1991 by V. Gamgia.Аргун Ю.Г. (Argun Yu. G.), О Государственном флаге (On the state flag) (XLVIII итоговая научная сессия (11-13 мая). тезисы докладов. - Сухум: АбИГИ, 2004, с. 3-4) It was officially adopted on 23 July 1992. The design of the red canton is based on the banner of the medieval Kingdom of Abkhazia. The open right hand means "Hello to friends! Stop to Enemies!".http://www.ahakuytra.com/abhazya-sehitleri/247-abhazya-bayraginin-anlami.html The seven stars in the canton have since been reinterpreted to correspond to the seven historical regions of the country - Sadzen, Bzyp, Gumaa, Abzhywa, Samurzaqan, Dal-Tsabal and Pskhuy-Aibga.Государственные символы 
Seven is a number sacred to the Abkhaz and the green and white stripes represent the tolerance that allows Christianity and Islam to cohabit.Abkhazia Flag from the Flags of the World Database.
File:Apsua Ladies in Flag Clothes.jpg|Woman wearing dress modelled after the Abkhazian flag
File:Apsua Childs waving Apsny Flag.jpg|Children waving miniature Abkhazian flags
File:Apsny Flag With Helicopter.jpg|Helicopter towing the Abkhazian flag
File:Apsua Holding Apsny Flag.jpg|Parade exhibiting Abkhazian flags
== Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia ==
A flag and emblem have been proposed by the Georgian State Council of Heraldry for the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia that combines the flag of Georgia with the green and white stripes found on the flag of the breakaway state.http://heraldry.ge/index.php?m=844&lng=eng
== Historical flags ==
=== Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia ===
The flag of the SSR Abkhazia was adopted in 1925 when the SSR Abkhazia ratified its constitution. It was used until 1931, when the SSR Abkhazia was transformed into the Abkhaz ASSR with a different flag.
=== Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic ===
This flag of the Abkhaz ASSR was introduced in 1978 and used until the collapse of the Soviet union in 1991. The previous flag used between 1931 and 1978 was identical to the flag of the Georgian SSR, and in 1978 the name of the Abkhaz ASSR was added written in the Abkhaz language and script.
File:Flag of Abkhazian SSR.svg| Flag of the Socialist Soviet Republic Abkhazia (1925–31)
File:Flag of Abkhazian ASSR.svg| Flag of the Abkhaz ASSR introduced in 1978
== See also ==
* Emblem and logo of Abkhazia
* Coat of arms of the SSR Abkhazia
== References ==
== External links ==
* Flag of Abkhazia at FOTW
* 
Category:National flags
Flag
Category:Flags of unrecognized or largely unrecognized states
Flag of the Socialist Soviet Republic
Category:Flags introduced in 1991