21 Years after the Armed Conflict in Abkhazia

Tamta Tvalavadze

On August 14, 1992 armed conflict broke out in Abkhazia. Main phase of military operations lasted 13 months and 13 days and finished on September 27, 1993 with the fall of Sokhumi. After the war, about 300 000 people had to flee from Abkhazia. About 10 000 soldiers and civilians were killed in military operations.

State Ministry for Reintegration released a special statement with regard to the 21st anniversary of the start of Abkhaz war.

“Today, Georgian and Abkhaz people are celebrating one more anniversary of tragic events. We still suffer from the horrible outcome of the war that broke out 21 years ago. Newly established state and that time government of the country could not avoid the bloodiest conflict of recent Georgian history. Outcome of the conflict turned up very hard for post-soviet Georgia. A lot of people died, the country received huge material and psychological damage that left deep and lasting trace in Georgian and Abkhaz societies. We would like to honor every person, who died in this conflict; we want to condole to every family – both Georgian and Abkhaz families. Today Georgia has government, which is ready to protect interests of Abkhaz and Georgian people, is sincerely interested in creation of basis for peaceful coexisting with them. On March 7, 2013 Parliament of Georgia passed resolution and took unilateral obligation not to use force. Georgian and Abkhaz people shall together find resolution of the problem and build our future with European values that has no alternative,” the statement reads.