Other

Georgian-Abkhaz war, 1992-1993

A war between Georgian government forces and Abkhaz separatists that ended in Abkhaz control of the territory and mass displacement of the Georgian population.

What happened

War between Georgian government forces and Abkhaz separatist forces, aided by North Caucasian and Cossack volunteers, began on 14 August 1992 and continued until the Abkhaz side's capture of Sukhumi on 27 September 1993, with fighting formally ending by 30 September 1993.[1]

Estimates of deaths vary significantly by source, ranging from around 5,000 combined Georgian and Abkhaz dead or missing to broader estimates of 10,000-30,000 total dead; displacement estimates range from around 200,000 to 267,345 people, the latter figure from a 2007 IDP registration.[2] The OSCE's Budapest (1994), Lisbon (1996) and Istanbul (1999) summit documents each condemned what they termed "ethnic cleansing" of the predominantly Georgian population of Abkhazia.[3]

On 21 July 1994, UN Security Council Resolution 937 reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, welcomed the 14 May 1994 Moscow cease-fire agreement, and authorized an expanded UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG).[4]

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: War between Georgian government forces and Abkhaz separatist forces, aided by North Caucasian and Cossack volunteers, began on 14 August 1992 and continued until the Abkhaz side's capture of Sukhumi on 27 September 1993, with fighting formally ending by 30 September 1993.

  2. 2.

    Claim: Estimates of deaths in the 1992-1993 war vary significantly by source, ranging from around 5,000 combined Georgian and Abkhaz dead or missing (with roughly 5,000 Georgians and up to around 3,000-4,000 Abkhaz reported killed in some estimates) to broader estimates of 10,000-30,000 total dead; displacement estimates range from around 200,000 to 267,345 people, the latter figure from a 2007 IDP registration, with several hundred additional people reported missing.

    • War in Abkhazia (1992-1993) (Wikipedia) link, Casualty figures section. Source record
    • Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia (Wikipedia) link, Casualty and displacement figures section. Source record
  3. 3.

    Claim: The OSCE's Budapest (1994), Lisbon (1996) and Istanbul (1999) summit documents each condemned what they termed "ethnic cleansing," described as resulting in the mass destruction and forcible expulsion of the predominantly Georgian population of Abkhazia; the UN General Assembly's 2008 resolution on Abkhazian IDPs and refugees noted these OSCE conclusions and referred to "reported ethnic cleansing."

    • Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia (Wikipedia) link, OSCE summit declarations section. Source record
    • United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly Resolution 62/249: Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia (United Nations) link, Preambular paragraph on OSCE summits. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: On 21 July 1994, UN Security Council Resolution 937 reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, welcomed the 14 May 1994 Moscow Agreement on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces, and authorized an expanded UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), including monitoring of the withdrawal of Georgian troops from the Kodori Valley.

    • United Nations Security Council, Security Council Resolution 937 (1994) (United Nations) link, Preamble and operative paragraphs 1-6. Source record

Source note

Show in the notes list