Independence movements

History of the Abkhazia dispute

From the 1992-1993 Georgian-Abkhaz war, through the 1999 independence declaration, to Russia's 2008 recognition and the end of the UN observer mission in 2009.

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The Georgian-Abkhaz war, 1992-1993

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," described as resulting in the mass destruction and forcible expulsion 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 Agreement on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces, and authorized an expanded UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG).[4]

· 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.

The 1999 referendum and independence declaration

On 3 October 1999, Abkhazia held a constitutional referendum alongside presidential elections, approved by 97.7% of participating voters; ethnic Georgians who had been expelled from Abkhazia during the war, estimated at 200,000-250,000 people, did not participate, and the referendum was not internationally recognized.[5]

On 12 October 1999, following the referendum, the Abkhazian parliament passed the Act of State Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia; the declaration received no international recognition at the time.[6]

· Referendum or popular consultation

Abkhazian referendum and Act of State Independence, 1999

Abkhazia held an unrecognized referendum and declared independence, six years after the end of the war, without gaining international recognition at the time.

Russia's 2008 recognition and the end of UNOMIG

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.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

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
  5. 5.

    Claim: On 3 October 1999, Abkhazia held a constitutional referendum alongside presidential elections, approved by 97.7% of participating voters; ethnic Georgians who had been expelled from Abkhazia during the 1992-1993 war, estimated at 200,000-250,000 people, did not participate, and the referendum was not internationally recognized.

    • 1999 Abkhazian constitutional referendum (Wikipedia) link, Referendum results and non-participation section. Source record
  6. 6.

    Claim: On 12 October 1999, following the referendum, the Abkhazian parliament passed the Act of State Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia; the declaration received no international recognition at the time.

    • 1999 Abkhazian constitutional referendum (Wikipedia) link, Act of State Independence section. Source record
  7. 7.

    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
  8. 8.

    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
  9. 9.

    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

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