Abkhazia
Abkhazia[n 1] (/æbˈkɑːziə/ ab-KAH-zee-ə),[6] officially the Republic of Abkhazia,[n 2] is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It covers 8,665 square kilometres (3,346 sq mi) and has a population of around 245,000. Its capital and largest city is Sukhumi.
For the early medieval state, see Kingdom of Abkhazia.
Republic of Abkhazia
- Abkhaz
- Russian
- Georgian
- Mingrelian
- Svan
- Armenian
Unitary presidential republic
31 March 1921
19 February 1931
25 August 1990
23 July 1992
12 October 1999
8,664.59[1] km2 (3,345.42 sq mi)
240,705
28.2/km2 (73.0/sq mi) (160th)
2021 estimate
$270 million[3]
$1,100
UTC+3 (MSK)
right
The political status of Abkhazia is a central issue of the Abkhaz–Georgian conflict and Georgia–Russia relations. Abkhazia has been recognised as an independent state by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria; however, the Georgian government and nearly all United Nations member states consider Abkhazia sovereign territory of Georgia.[7][8][9][10] Lacking effective control over the Abkhazian territory, Georgia maintains an Abkhaz government-in-exile.
The region had autonomy within Soviet Georgia at the time when the Soviet Union began to disintegrate in the late 1980s. Simmering ethnic tensions between the Abkhaz—the region's titular ethnicity—and Georgians—the largest single ethnic group at that time—culminated in the 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia, which resulted in Georgia's loss of control over most of Abkhazia and the ethnic cleansing of Georgians from Abkhazia. Despite a 1994 ceasefire agreement and years of negotiations, the dispute remains unresolved. The long-term presence of a United Nations Observer Mission and a Russian-led Commonwealth of Independent States peacekeeping force failed to prevent the flare-up of violence on several occasions. In August 2008, Abkhaz and Russian forces fought a war against Georgian forces, which led to the formal recognition of Abkhazia by Russia, the annulment of the 1994 ceasefire agreement and the termination of the UN mission. On 23 October 2008, the Parliament of Georgia declared Abkhazia a Russian-occupied territory, a position shared by most United Nations member states.[11]
Toponymy[edit]
The Russian name Абхазия (Abkhaziya) is adapted from the Georgian აფხაზეთი (Apkhazeti). Abkhazia's name in English
(/æbˈkɑːziə/ [6] ab-KAH-zee-ə or /æbˈkeɪziə/ ab-KAY-zee-ə[12]) and in most languages is derived directly from the Russian.
The Abkhaz name Apsny (Abkhaz: Аԥсны, IPA [apʰsˈnɨ]) is etymologized as a land of the soul[13] however the literal meaning is a country of mortals.[14] It possibly first appeared in the seventh century in an Armenian text, perhaps referring to the ancient Apsilians.[15]
The term Apkhazeti that appeared in the Georgian annals was sometimes used to denote Abasgia specifically, and at other times the western region of the Kingdom of Georgia.
In early Muslim sources, the term "Abkhazia" was generally used to mean the territory of Georgia.[16][17]
Presumably considered as a successor state of Lazica (Egrisi in Georgian sources), this new polity continued to be referred to as Egrisi in some Byzantine era Georgian and Armenian chronicles (e.g. The Vitae of the Georgian Kings by Leonti Mroveli and The History of Armenia by Hovannes Draskhanakertsi).
The state is designated as the "Republic of Abkhazia" in its constitution.[18]
Before the 20th century, the region was sometimes referred to in English language sources as "Abhasia".[19][20]
The Abkhazian Armed Forces are the military of the Republic of Abkhazia. The basis of the Abkhazian armed forces was formed by the ethnically Abkhaz National Guard, which was established in early 1992. Most of their weapons come from the former Russian airborne division base in Gudauta.[228][229] The Abkhazian military is primarily a ground force, but includes small sea and air units. Russia deploys its own military units as part of the 7th Military Base in Abkhazia.[230] These units are reportedly subordinate to the Russian 49th Army and include both ground elements and air defence assets.[231]
The Abkhazian Armed Forces are composed of:
