25 years pass since loss of control of occupied Abkhazia

On this day 25 years ago hundreds of thousands of Georgians were forced to leave their homes in Georgia's western breakaway Abkhazia region, thousands of people died and Tbilisi lost control of Abkhazia region.

The armed conflict lasted 13 months and 13 days.

Photo: Mike Goldwater. 

Armed conflict in Abkhazia began on 14 August 1992 when Georgia's Armed Forces, intending to defend the Sochi-Enguri section of the railway, were confronted by Abkhaz Gvardia [armed forces].

The Abkhaz militant group involved Russian soldiers and was created under the order of the head of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, Vladislav Ardzinba, near Okhurei Village in Ochamchire district.

In response, the State Council of Georgia decided to send the National Gvardia [another soldier unit controlled by Tbilisi] to Abkhazia to challenge the militant group.

Photo: Mike Goldwater.

This confrontation sparked the beginning of hostilities in Abkhazia.

On 27 July 1993 both sides agreed to the ‘Sochi Agreement on Ceasefire and Separation of Forces’ however about two months later, on September 16, 1993, the Abkhaz violated the ceasefire agreement and began an attack on Sokhumi.

The Abkhaz-Russian forces started their attack on the building of the Council of Ministers of Abkhazia in the morning of September 27, 1993. They captured and killed Chairman Zhiuli Shartava, Sokhumi Mayor Guram Gabeskiria and 27 employees of the Council of Ministers.

Photo: Mike Goldwater. 

On the same day Sokhumi collapsed and the Georgian Armed Forces lost the fight. This was the end of the war.

Due to the conflict:

• Between 13,000 to 20,000 ethnic Georgians and approximately 3,000 Abkhaz have been reported killed, more than 250,000 Georgians became internally displaced or refugees and about 2,000 are considered missing.
• Among the missing about 1,500 are ethnic Georgians, up to 200 are ethnic Abkhaz and about 100 are ethnic Ossetians.