Abkhazia conflict

Abkhazia conflict
	Part of Dissolution of the Soviet Union and post-Soviet conflicts
	; Half-destroyed Sukhumi. The Government House of Abkhazia is visible in the background. 2006
Date	18 March 1989 – present
Location	Abkhazia, Georgia
Status	Ongoing; frozen conflict
Territorial; changes	Abkhazia becomes a de facto independent republic, but remains internationally recognized as part of Georgia
Belligerents
Abkhaz ASSR (before 1992); Abkhazia (after 1992) Supported by:; CMPC (1992–1993) ; / Russia Kuban Cossacks; Don Cossacks; South Ossetia	Georgian SSR (before 1990); / Georgia (after 1990); Zviadists(1991–1998); Supported by:; Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (2001); UNA-UNSO (1992–1993); White Legion (1992–1998); Mkhedrioni (1991–1998); Forest Brotherhood (1992–1998)
Commanders and leaders
Vladislav Ardzinba ; (1990–2005); Sergei Bagapsh #; (2005–11); Alexander Ankvab ; (2011–14); Raul Khajimba ; (2014–20); Aslan Bzhania ; (2020–present); Shamil Basayev †; (1992–1993); Sultan Sosnaliyev #; (1992–1993); Musa Shanibov #; (1992–1993); / Boris Yeltsin #; (1991–1999); Dmitry Medvedev; (2008–2012); Vladimir Putin; (2000–2008, 2012–present) Killed senior commanders: Yassin Zelimkhanov †; Anatoly Zaitsev †; Boris Pachulia †; Gena Kardanov † ;	Givi Gumbaridze ; (1989–1990); Zviad Gamsakhurdia (DOW) ; (1990–92); Eduard Shevardnadze # ; (1992–2003); Mikheil Saakashvili ; (2004–13); Giorgi Margvelashvili ; (2013–18); Salome Zourabichvili; (2018–2024); Mikheil Kavelashvili ; (2024-Presesent) Killed senior commanders: Geno Adamia †; Zhiuli Shartava †; Zurab Samushia †; Dato Shengelia †; Zhiuli Shartava †; Guram Gabiskiria ; Mamia Alasania ; Tengiz Kitovani # ;
Casualties and losses
1992–1993: 12,000; 1998: 25–300; 2008: 3	1992–1993: 14,000 250,000 displaced; 1998: 103-160, 35,000-40,000 displaced; 2008: 2,192
	18 killed 448 injured in 1989; 40 killed in 2001

The Abkhazia conflict is a territorial dispute over Abkhazia, a region on the eastern coast of the Black Sea in the South Caucasus, at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The conflict involves Georgia, the Russian Federation and the Russian-backed self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia, which is internationally recognised only by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria; Georgia and all other United Nations members consider Abkhazia a sovereign territory of Georgia. However, as of 2025, Georgia lacks de facto control over the territory.

The beginning of the conflict dates back to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991; however, the dispute can be traced to 1918—1919 Abkhazia conflict over Sukhumi okrug (which corresponds to the Abkhazia region) between the Georgian Democratic Republic, White Russia and the Russian SFSR. Since 1989, the conflict has involved several wars: the 1992—1993 War in Abkhazia, the 1998 War in Abkhazia and the 2008 Russo-Georgian War.

The conflict, one of the bloodiest in the post-Soviet era, remains unresolved. The Georgian government has offered substantial autonomy to Abkhazia several times. However, both the Abkhaz government and the opposition in Abkhazia refuse any form of union with Georgia. Abkhaz regard their independence as the result of a war of liberation from Georgia, while Georgians believe that historically Abkhazia has always formed part of Georgia. Georgians formed the single largest ethnic group in pre-1993 Abkhazia, with a 45.7% plurality as of 1989. During the war the Abkhaz separatist side carried out an ethnic cleansing campaign which resulted in the expulsion of up to 250,000 and in the killing of more than 5,000 ethnic Georgians. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) conventions of Lisbon, Budapest and Istanbul have officially recognized the ethnic cleansing of Georgians, which UN General Assembly Resolution GA/10708 also mentions. The UN Security Council has passed a series of resolutions in which it appeals for a cease-fire.