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Russian recognition of Abkhazia and UNOMIG's end, 2008-2009

Following the August 2008 Russo-Georgian war, Russia recognized Abkhazian independence, and the UN observer mission that had monitored the territory since the 1990s ended after a Russian veto.

What happened

On 15 May 2008, UN General Assembly Resolution 62/249 recognized the right of return of all refugees and internally displaced persons and their descendants, regardless of ethnicity, to Abkhazia, and called for a timetable for their prompt voluntary return.[1]

Following the August 2008 Russo-Georgian war, Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia on 26 August 2008, becoming the first UN member state to do so; a small number of other UN member states have also recognized Abkhazia at various points, with some recognitions later withdrawn.[2]

On 15 June 2009, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that would have extended UNOMIG's mandate, after Russia's foreign ministry said an extension not referring to Abkhazia as an independent state was "useless"; UNOMIG's mandate lapsed and the last observers left the region by 15 July 2009.[3]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: On 15 May 2008, UN General Assembly Resolution 62/249 recognized the right of return of all refugees and internally displaced persons and their descendants, regardless of ethnicity, to Abkhazia, and called for a timetable for their prompt voluntary return.

    • United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly Resolution 62/249: Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia (United Nations) link, Operative paragraphs 1 and 3. Source record
  2. 2.

    Claim: Following the August 2008 Russo-Georgian war, Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia on 26 August 2008, becoming the first UN member state to do so; as of the sources consulted, five other UN member states (Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, Vanuatu and, at various points, Tuvalu and Syria) have also recognized Abkhazia, with recognition by some states later withdrawn.

    • War in Abkhazia (1992-1993) (Wikipedia) link, International recognition section. Source record
  3. 3.

    Claim: On 15 June 2009, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that would have extended UNOMIG's mandate, after Russia's foreign ministry said an extension not referring to Abkhazia as an independent state was "useless"; ten Council members voted in favour and four abstained. UNOMIG's mandate lapsed and the last observers left the region by 15 July 2009.

    • Russia vetoes extension of UN mission in Georgia (UN News) link, Veto and withdrawal section. Source record

Source note

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