Georgian-Abkhazian conflict

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The Georgian-Abkhaz conflict refers to the ethnic conflict between Georgians and Abkhaz separatists (allegedly strongly supported by Russia) in Abkhazia, a de facto independent republic which is de jure part of Georgia.

History of Abkhazia
See also History of Georgia
Early History of Abkhazia
Prehistoric settlement
Abkhazia in antiquity
Abkhazia since the 8th to the 19th century
Kingdom of Abkhazia
Abkhazia within the unified Abkhazian-Georgian Kingdom
Principality of Abkhazia
Abkhazia since the 19th century to 1921
Abkhazia within the Russian Empire
Abkhazia since 1917 to 1921
Soviet Abkhazia
Abkhazian Soviet Socialist Republic
Abkhazian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
Modern Abkhazia
Georgian-Abkhazian conflict
Abkhazia after the war
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Georgian-Russian
relations (1989-2008)
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The conflict, one of the bloodiest in the post-Soviet area, remains unresolved. The Georgian government offered large autonomy to Abkhazia several times. However, both the Abkhaz separatist government and opposition refuse any forms of union with Georgia. Abkhaz consider their independence as a result of a war of liberation from Georgia, while Georgians believe that historically Abkhazia has always been part of Georgia. Georgians formed the single largest ethnic group in pre-war Abkhazia, with a 45.7% plurality as of 1989. Many accuse Eduard Shevardnadze’s government of the initiation of senseless hostilities, and then of ineffective conduct of the war and post-war diplomacy.[citation needed] During the war, the Abkhaz separatist side carried out full scale ethnic cleansing (see Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia) campaign which resulted in the expulsion of up to 250,000 ethnic Georgians and more than 15,000 killed. [1][2][3] The ethnic cleansing of Georgians has been recognized officially by the OSCE conventions of Lisbon, Budapest and Istanbul (also mentioned in UN General Assembly Resolution GA/10708). [4][5]

Contents

[edit] Events

[edit] War in Abkhazia

Main article: War in Abkhazia

The conflict involved a 13-month long Abkhazian war with Georgian government forces and militia made of ethnic Georgians who lived in Abkhazia on one side and Russian-backed separatist forces made of ethnic Abkhazians, Armenians and Russians who also lived in Abkhazia on the other side. The separatists were supported by the North Caucasian and Cossack militants and (unofficially) by Russian forces stationed in Gudauta.

[edit] Resumption of hostilities

Main articles: War in Abkhazia (1998) and 2001 Kodori crisis

In April–May, 1998, the conflict escalated once again in the Gali District when several hundred Abkhaz forces entered the villages still populated by Georgians to support the separatist-held parliamentary elections. Despite criticism from the opposition, Eduard Shevardnadze, President of Georgia, refused to deploy troops against Abkhazia. A ceasefire was negotiated on May 20. The hostilities resulted in hundreds of casualties from both sides and an additional 20,000 Georgian refugees.

In September 2001, around 400 Chechen fighters and 80 Georgian guerrillas appeared in the Kodori Valley in extremely controversial conditions. The Chechen-Georgian paramilitaries advanced as far as Sukhumi, but finally were repelled by Abkhaz and Gudauta based Russian peacekeepers.

[edit] Saakashvili era

The new Georgian government of President Mikhail Saakashvili promises not to use force and to resolve the problem only by diplomacy and political talks.[6]

While at a CIS summit it was decided to exclude any contact with separatists; the trans-border economic cooperation and transport between Abkhazia and Russia grows in scale, with Russia claiming that all this is a matter of private business, rather than state.[citation needed] Georgia also decries the unlimited issuing of Russian passports in Abkhazia with subsequent payment of retirement pensions and other monetary benefits by Russia, which Georgia considers to be economic support of separatists by the Russian government.[6]

In May 2006 the Coordinating Council of Georgia’s Government and Abkhaz separatists was convened for the first time since 2001. [7] In late July the 2006 Kodori crisis erupted, resulting in the establishment of the de jure Government of Abkhazia in Kodori. For the first time after the war, this government is located in Abkhazia, and is headed by Malkhaz Akishbaia, Temur Mzhavia and Ada Marshania. [8]

Currently, the Abkhaz side demands reparations from the Georgian side of $13 Billion in US currency for damages in this conflict. The Georgian side dismisses these claims.[9] On May 15, 2008 United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution recognising the right of all refugees (including victims of reported “ethnic cleansing”) to return to Abkhazia and their property rights. It "regretted" the attempts to alter pre-war demographic composition and called for the "rapid development of a timetable to ensure the prompt voluntary return of all refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes."[10]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ US State Department, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993, Abkhazia case
  2. ^ Chervonnaia, Svetlana Mikhailovna. Conflict in the Caucasus: Georgia, Abkhazia, and the Russian Shadow. Gothic Image Publications, 1994.
  3. ^ US State Department, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993, February 1994, Chapter 17.
  4. ^ UN GA/10708
  5. ^ Resolution of the OSCE Budapest Summit, OSCE, 1994-12-06
  6. ^ a b Abkhazia Today. The International Crisis Group Europe Report N°176, 15 September 2006, page 10. Retrieved on May 30, 2007. Free registration needed to view full report
  7. ^ "UN Representative Says Abkhazia Dialogue Is Positive"
  8. ^ Tbilisi-Based Abkhaz Government Moves to Kodori, Civil Georgia, July 27 2006. URL accessed on 2007-07-28
  9. ^ Abkhazia demands Georgia pay $13 bln war compensation
  10. ^ GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING RIGHT OF RETURN BY REFUGEES, INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS TO ABKHAZIA, GEORGIA, 15.05.2008

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Flag of Georgia (country)  Georgian-Abkhazian conflict  Flag of Abkhazia
Timeline Abkhazian side Georgian side

Prelude

Wars

Aftermath and Consequences

Military forces:

Key leaders:

Military forces:

Key leaders: