Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia

Аҧснытәи Автономтәи Республика
აფხაზეთის ავტონომიური რესპუბლიკა
Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia

Autonomous Republic of ‌Georgia

Republic of Abkhazia

Capital

Tbilisi

Status

Autonomous Republic

Chief minister

- From 2009

Giorgi Baramia

Legislature

Supreme Council

History

- April 9, 1991

Independence of Georgia

Currency

Georgian lari

Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic

v

The Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia is an autonomous part of Georgia. The official government of Abkhazia is since 2008 located in the Georgian capital of Tblisi, and the territory is de facto controlled by a breakaway government under the name of the Republic of Abkhazia which has received international recognition from Russia and three other states.

Background

Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has been complicated by Russian assistance and support to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. After a series of Russian and separatist provocations in summer 2008, Georgian military action in South Ossetia in early August led to a Russian military response that not only occupied the breakaway areas, but large portions of Georgia proper as well. Russian troops pulled back from most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This action was strongly condemned by most of the world's nations and international organizations.^[1]