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Abkhazia (Georgia)

by Gvido Petersons

Presentation of Abkhazia
Flag of Abkhazia
Erroneous reports of the flag of Abkhazia
Coat of arms of Abkhazia
1989 flag of Abkhazia

See also:

External link:

Official Abkhazian government website (flag page)

Presentation of Abkhazia

Full name: Republic of Abkhazia.
Location: Western region of Georgia.
Status: Disputed. Formerly a subdivision of Georgia, Abkhazia declared itself independent on 23 July 1992. Since then it has been at war with, and partially occupied by, Georgia.
Notes: The Abkhazians are a Caucasian people. There flag is similar to that of the self-styled Confederation of the Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus, whose guerrillas have reported assisted the Abkhazians in their struggle.(It has also been claimed that the Russians has supported the Abkhazian separatists as part of their political disputes with Georgia.) The flag of Abkhazia appears to be based on that of the Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus.

Stuart Notholt

The TV-magazine Thalassa recently showed a document on Abkhazia, called "The ghost country". The flag shown above was seen during celebrations of the fifth anniversary of victory on Georgia, as the ensign on the few still active fishing boats, and painted on tanks. Abkhazia is a "ghost country" because no country has recognized it. It is subjected to a terrestrial blockade by Russia and Georgia and to a naval blockade by the Russian Navy. Only a Turkish boat (of course without any ensign because she officially goes to Russia) is allowed to bring some food once a month. Abkhazian passports are not recognized, so Abkhazians are prisonners in their own country, which was once the "Soviet Riviera".

Ivan Sache, 25 April 1999

The 'Act of State Independence of the Republic of Abkahzia', signed on 12 October 1999 in Sukhum by the President of the Republic and the Deputees of Abkhazian Parliament states that:

The Constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia, adopted by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Abkhazia on 26th November 1994, became the legal basis for the independent State - the Republic of Abkhazia (Apsny), already created de facto.
[...]
On 3rd October 1999 a referendum was held to ascertain the citizens' attitude to the current Constitution. On the referendum day there lived on the territory of Abkhazia 219,534 citizens eligible to vote, i.e. 58.5% of the pre-war number of voters. 87.6% of the registered voters took part in the referendum, which compris