Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a region in the Caucasus. The Caucasus mountains on the north and northeast divides it from Circassia; on the southeast it is bounded by Mingrelia; and on the southwest by the Black Sea. Though the country is generally mountainous, with dense forests of oak and walnut, there are some deep, well-watered valleys, and the climate is mild. The soil is fertile, producing wheat, maize, grapes, figs, pomegranates and wine. Cattle and horses are bred. Honey is produced; and excellent arms are made. This country was subdued (c. 550) by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, who introduced Christianity. Largely associated with Western Georgia, it was ruled by Georgian dynasties from 735 to the 15th century, when the region was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and became partially Muslim. The Russians acquired possession of it piecemeal between 1829 and 1842, but their power was not firmly established until after 1864. Large numbers emigrated to the Turkish empire in 1864 and 1878 as a result of Russian oppression.Originally Western Georgian region, mainly inhabited by indigineous Georgians (48% of it's 500 000 population ) and Abkhazians(17%), It declared independence from Georgia on July 23, 1992, though this was not internationally recognized. Civil strife followed in 1992/93, in which Abkhazian guerilla forces helped by Russian regular forces and Chechen paramilitaries drove out newly estabilished Georgian National Guard units. This lead to ethnical cleansing of Georgian population, with around 250 000 people fleeing their homes, and 10 000 victims of war dead. While peace has been relatively maintained since 1993, by peacekeeping force of the Community of Independent States (composed of Russian military personell), hard negotiations for conflict resolution are still ahead.
- President: Vladislav Ardzinba since 1994
- Prime Minister: Raul Khadjimba since 2003
