Abkhazia’s Breathtaking Beauty: Unveiling a Hidden Gem

Abkhazia’s Breathtaking Beauty: Unveiling a Hidden Gem

Nestled on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, Abkhazia boasts a stunning blend of dramatic mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and…

Sokhumi Riot and prelude towards armed conflict

Sokhumi Riot and prelude towards armed conflict

The lingering ethnic discord in Abkhazia exacerbated when, on March…

Armed Conflict

Armed Conflict

A violent coup in Tbilisi, which ousted President Gamsakhurdia in…

A Crossroads of Empires: Abkhazia Between Byzantium and Georgia

A Crossroads of Empires: Abkhazia Between Byzantium and Georgia

Abkhazia’s story takes another turn in the 11th century, shaped…

The Double-Edged Sword: The Impact of Russian Rule on Abkhazia (1801-1917)

The Double-Edged Sword: The Impact of Russian Rule on Abkhazia (1801-1917)

The 19th century witnessed a dramatic shift in Abkhazia’s destiny…

Abkhazia’s Breathtaking Beauty: Unveiling a Hidden Gem

Abkhazia’s Breathtaking Beauty: Unveiling a Hidden Gem

Nestled on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, Abkhazia…

Georgia’s Democratic Path Past, Present and Future

Georgia’s Democratic Path Past, Present and Future

Georgia’s Minister of Defence Irakli Alasania spoke at Chatham House…

Tourism in Abkhazia and possibility of avian influenza outbreak

Tourism in Abkhazia and possibility of avian influenza outbreak

The self-proclaimed government in Abkhazia has never confirmed of avian…

Narco-Trafficking in Abkhazia

Narco-Trafficking in Abkhazia

The post-Soviet era appears to be an era of unprecedented…

History

1917 to 1921

Abkhazia from 1917 to 1921 The Bolshevik coup in October 1917 and the ensuing Russian Civil War forced the major national forces of South Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia – to unite into fragile federative structures. Abkhaz leaders created, on November 8, 1917, their own post-revolutionary body, Abkhaz People’s Council (APC), but Abkhazia became embroiled into a chaos of the civil unrest. It was torn between supporters of the short-lived Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus, a pro-Bolshevik faction, a pro-Turkish nobility, and a pro-Georgian Menshevik group.

Antiquity

Abkhazia in antiquity Along with the rest of Colchis, the territory of modern-day Abkhazia was conquered by Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus between c. 110 and 63 BC, and then taken by the Roman commander Pompey

Medieval

Abkhazia in antiquity Along with the rest of Colchis, the territory of modern-day Abkhazia was conquered by Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus between c. 110 and 63 BC, and then taken by the Roman commander Pompey

Post-war

Post-war Abkhazia The economic situation in the republic after war was very hard and it was aggravated by the sanctions imposed in 1994 by the CIS. During the 1990s a lot of people of all ethnicities left Abkhazia mainly for Russia. Since 1997 Russia effectively dropped these sanctions which tremendously helped republic's economy.

Prehistoric settlement

The Prehistoric settlement in Abkhazia Lower Paleolithic hunting-gathering encampments formed the first known settlements on the territory of modern-day Abkhazia. The earliest examples have been unearthed at the sites of Iashkhtva, Gumista, Kelasuri, and Ochamchire.

Russian Empire

Abkhazia within the Russian Empire The Russian annexation of two major Georgian kingdoms between 1801 and 1810 facilitated the empire’s expansion far into the Caucasus region. During the Russo-Turkish War, 1806-1812, in 1810, a Russian force took hold of Suhum-kale and installed their protégé Sefer Bey (Georgi), who agreed to incorporate Abkhazia as a vassal principality within the Russian empire.

Soviet Empire

Abkhazia within the Soviet Union Despite the 1920 treaty of non-aggression signed between Bolshevik Russia and Georgia, Soviet Russia’s 11th Red Army invaded Georgia on February 11 1921, and marched on Tbilisi. Almost simultaneously, 9th (Kuban) Army entered Abkhazia on February 19. Supported by the local pro-Bolshevik guerrillas, the Soviet troops took control of most of Abkhazia in a series of battles from February 23 to March 7, and proceeded into the neighbouring region of Mingrelia.

The Ottoman rule

The Ottoman rule In the 1570s, the Ottoman navy occupied the Georgian fort of Tskhumi on the Abkhazian coastline, turning it into the Turkish fortress of Suhum-Kale (hence, the modern name of the city of Sokhumi).

War in Abkhazia

The War in Abkhazia For more detailed account of the events, please see section: War in Abkhazia

Abkhazia’s Breathtaking Beauty: Unveiling a Hidden Gem

Abkhazia’s Breathtaking Beauty: Unveiling a Hidden Gem

Nestled on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, Abkhazia boasts a stunning blend of…

Georgia’s Democratic Path Past, Present and Future

Georgia’s Democratic Path Past, Present and Future

Georgia’s Minister of Defence Irakli Alasania spoke at Chatham House about learning from the past,…

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