Republic of Abkhazia | |
---|---|
Anthem: Аиааира (Abkhaz) Aiaaira "Victory" | |
Status | Partially recognised state |
Capital and largest city | Sukhumi 43°0′0″N 41°1′40″E / 43.00000°N 41.02778°E |
Official languages | |
Spoken languages |
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Demonym(s) |
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Government | Unitary presidential republic |
Badra Gunba (acting) | |
Badra Gunba | |
Valeri Bganba (acting) | |
Legislature | People's Assembly |
Establishment | |
31 March 1921 | |
19 February 1931 | |
• Abkhazian declaration of sovereignty | 25 August 1990 |
• Abkhazian declaration of independence | 23 July 1992 |
• Act of state independence | 12 October 1999 |
Area | |
• Total | 8,664.59[1] km2 (3,345.42 sq mi) |
Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 244,236[2] (180th) |
• 2011 census | 240,705 |
• Density | 28.2/km2 (73.0/sq mi) (160th) |
GDP (nominal) | 2021 estimate |
• Total | $270 million[3] |
• Per capita | $1,100 |
Currency | (RUB) |
Time zone | UTC+3 (MSK) |
Drives on | right |
Calling code | +7 840 / 940 (formerly, +995 44)[4][5] |
Abkhazia[n 1] (/æbˈkɑːziə/ ab-KAH-zee-ə),[6] officially the Republic of Abkhazia,[n 2] is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, at the intersection of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It covers 8,665 square kilometres (3,346 sq mi) and has a population of around 245,000. Its capital and largest city is Sukhumi.
The political status of Abkhazia is a central issue of the Abkhazia conflict and Georgia–Russia relations. Abkhazia has been recognised as an independent state by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria; however, the Georgian government and nearly all United Nations member states consider Abkhazia sovereign territory of Georgia.[7][8][9][10] Lacking effective control over the Abkhazian territory, Georgia maintains an Abkhaz government-in-exile.
The region had autonomy within Soviet Georgia at the time when the Soviet Union began to disintegrate in the late 1980s. Simmering ethnic tensions between the Abkhaz—the region's titular ethnicity—and Georgians—the largest single ethnic group at that time—culminated in the 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia, which resulted in Georgia's loss of control over most of Abkhazia and the ethnic cleansing of Georgians from Abkhazia. Despite a 1994 ceasefire agreement and years of negotiations, the dispute remains unresolved. The long-term presence of a United Nations Observer Mission and a Russian-led Commonwealth of Independent States peacekeeping force failed to prevent the flare-up of violence on several occasions. In August 2008, Abkhaz and Russian forces fought a war against Georgian forces, which led to the formal recognition of Abkhazia by Russia, the annulment of the 1994 ceasefire agreement and the termination of the UN mission. On 23 October 2008, the Parliament of Georgia declared Abkhazia a Russian-occupied territory, a position shared by most United Nations member states.[11]
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