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Georgian-Abkhazian conflict

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The Georgian-Abkhaz conflict refers to the ethnic conflict between Georgians and Abkhaz (allegedly strongly supported by Russia) in Abkhazia, a de facto independent republic which is de jure part of Georgia. The conflict, one of the bloodiest in the post-Soviet area, remains unresolved. The Georgian government offered large autonomy to Abkhazia several times. However, both the Abkhaz government and opposition refuse any forms of union with Georgia. Abkhaz consider their independence as a result of a war of liberation from Georgian aggression, while Georgians believe the conflict to be a patriotic war to retain the sovereignty and integrity of Georgia. Many accuse Eduard Shevardnadze’s government of the initiation of senseless hostilities, and then of ineffective conduct of the war and post-war diplomacy.

Events

War in Abkhazia

The conflict involved a 13-month long Abkhazian war with Georgian government forces and militia made of ethnic Georgians who lived in Abkhazia on one side and separatist forces made of ethnic Abkhazians, Armenians and Russians who also lived in Abkhazia on the other side. The separatists were supported by the North Caucasian and Cossack militants and (unofficially) by Russian forces stationed in Gudauta.

Resumption of hostilities

In April–May, 1998, the conflict escalated once again in the Gali District when several hundred Abkhaz forces entered the villages still populated by Georgians to support the separatist-held parliamentary elections. Despite criticism from the opposition, Eduard Shevardnadze, President of Georgia, refused to deploy troops against Abkhazia. A ceasefire was negotiated on May 20. The hostilities resulted in hundreds of casualties from both sides and an additional 20,000 Georgian refugees.

In September 2001, around 400 Chechen fighters and 80 Georgian guerrillas appeared in the Kodori Valley in extremely controversial conditions. The Chechen-Georgian paramilitaries advanced as far as Sukhumi, but finally were repelled by Abkhaz and Gudauta based Russian peacekeepers.

Saakashvili era

The new Georgian government of President Mikhail Saakashvili promises not to use force and to resolve the problem only by diplomacy and political talks.

While at a CIS summit it was decided to exclude any contact with separatists; the trans-border economic cooperation and transport between Abkhazia and Russia grows in scale, with Russia claiming that all this is a matter of private business, rather than state. Georgia also decries the unlimited issuing of Russian passports in Abkhazia with subsequent payment of retirement pensions and other monetary benefits by Russia, which Georgia considers to be economic support of separatists by the Russian government.

In May 2006 the Coordinating Council of Georgia’s Government and Abkhaz separatists was convened for the first time since 2001. In late July the 2006 Kodori crisis erupted, resulting in the establishment of the de jure Government of Abkhazia in Kodori. For the first time after the war, this government is located in Abkhazia, and is headed by Malkhaz Akishbaia, Temur Mzhavia and Ada Marshania.

Currently, the Abkhaz side demands reparations from the Georgian side of $13 Billion in US currency for damages in this conflict. The Georgian side dismisses these claims.

Notes

Bibliography

See also

External links



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Last updated on Sunday February 17, 2008 at 03:20:09 PST (GMT -0800)
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