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ABKHAZIA PROFILE

Published13 January 2020
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Situated in the north-western corner of Georgia with the Black Sea to the
south-west and the Caucasus mountains and Russia to the north-east, Abkhazia was
once known as a prime holiday destination for the Soviet elite.

The region fought and won a war of secession with Georgia in 1992-93, and
formally declared independence in 1999.

After the Georgian-Russian war in 2008, Moscow recognized the region as an
independent state. Georgia responded by declaring Abkhazia "occupied" by Russia.

In recent years, Abkhazia has drifted closer and closer to Russia. In 2009
Moscow signed a five-year agreement with Abkhazia to take formal control of its
frontiers with Georgia proper.

In 2014, Russia and the breakaway region signed a "strategic partnership"
agreement, angering Georgia, which accused Moscow of seeking to annex Abkhazia.

 * Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring


FACTS

 * Territory: Abkhazia
 * Status: Break-away region of Georgia. Declared independence 1999. Not
   recognized internationally.
 * Population: (1991) 550,000 (2011) approximately 250,000
 * Capital: Sukhumi
 * Major languages: Abkhaz, Russian
 * Currency: Rouble
 * Major religions: Christianity, Islam
 * Natural resources: Agricultural, primarily citrus fruit, hazelnuts, tea,
   timber; some coal, hydro-electric power


LEADER

President (resigned): Raul Khadzhimba


Image source, Getty Images

Raul Khadzhimba was voted in as president in August 2014, in an election
denounced as illegal by the European Union and Georgia.

He resigned in January 2020, after protesters stormed his office in the capital
Sukhumi, accusing him of having rigged the presidential election of the previous
September.

Parliament has scheduled fresh elections for March, and Prime Minister Valery
Bganba will serve as interim president.

Mr Khadzhimba, a former Soviet KGB officer who served in senior Abkhaz
governments posts from 1999, had taken over from Alexander Ankvab, who was
himself forced out over allegations of corruption and misrule when protesters
broke into the presidential administration building in May 2014.


MEDIA

Russian TV and Abkhazian state TV are the main sources of news. Major Russian
stations are relayed in the territory. The only private TV, Abaza TV, is
licensed to cover the entire region.

There is little or no access to Georgian TV, other than by satellite.



The Abkhaz government publishes newspapers in Abkhaz and Russian. Several
private papers publish alongside official titles.

Internet usage is growing fast.

 * Read full media profile


TIMELINE

Some key dates in Abkhazia's history:

756 - Independent kingdom formed

985 - Becomes part of Georgia, later regaining independence

1578 - Comes under Turkish rule



1810 - Russia declares Abkhazia a protectorate

1864 - Russia annexes Abkhazia

1931 - Soviet authorities incorporate Abkhazia into Georgia

1991 - Georgia declares independence, sends troops to Abkhazia the following
year to stop secession movement

1993 - Fierce fighting ends with Georgian forces being expelled from Abkhazia

1994 - Ceasefire agreed, peacekeepers arrive, nearly all Russian

1999 - Abkhazia declares independence

2008 - Russia formally recognises Abkhazia's independence, following the
Russian-Georgian war over South Ossetia

2020 - Raul Khadzhimba becomes second president in six years to be forced from
office by public protests


MORE ON THIS STORY

 * Georgia country profile
   
   Published22 February

 * Abkhazia votes with no peace in sight
   
   Published12 March 2012

 * Russian president visits Abkhazia
   
   Published8 August 2010

 * Putin message clear in Abkhazia
   
   Published13 August 2009





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