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Abkhazia

Abkhazia is a region of the Caucasus on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, south of Russia. Its status is disputed and led to armed conflict.

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All Content on this topic

A green border sign in front of barbed wire

Russia-backed borders in Georgia condemned by rights court

Europe's top rights court has said Russia helped set up borders separating Georgia from pro-Moscow separatist enclaves.
ConflictsApril 9, 2024
DW Podcast | Inside Europe | provisorisch f ROAD

Inside Europe - 11 January 2024

Germany’s winter of discontent, the plight of hundreds of British sub-postmasters falsely accused of theft, NATO is looking for a new Secretary General, and Denmark has a new monarch. Also: Turkish espionage arrests, Republika Srpska’s controversial national holiday, Abkhazia’s government in exile, and Spain’s economic gamble.
PoliticsJanuary 11, 202455:01 min
DW Podcast | Inside Europe | provisorisch f ROAD

Inside Europe 11.08.2022

Finland to bury its nuclear waste, a UK gender identity clinic for children shuts, and relearning to smell after COVID.
PoliticsAugust 11, 202254:59 min
A view of the South Ossetian national flag over the city of Tskhinval

South Ossetia shelves plan for referendum to join Russia

The leader of South Ossetia, the breakaway region of Georgia, has scrapped plans to hold a referendum on joining Russia.
PoliticsMay 31, 2022
Georgien | Kaukasus-Konflikt | russische Armee in Zchinwali

ECHR rules on abuses in Ossetia, Abkhazia, Maidan

Fourteen and six years after "state" abuses, Russia and Ukraine have been panned by the European Human Rights Court.
PoliticsJanuary 22, 2021
DW's Zhanna Nemtsova in conversation with Georgian presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili

Georgia can't 'go it alone' with Russia

Presidential frontrunner Salome Zurabishvili told DW why domestic and international coooperation are key for the future.
PoliticsOctober 31, 2018
Former Abkhazian government building

Syria recognizes Georgia's breakaway regions

Syria is now one of five countries that have recognized the Moscow-backed regions.
PoliticsMay 30, 2018
Georgi Margwelaschwili - Präsidentschaftswahlen in Georgien

Looking west doesn't mean harming Russia

Georgian President Margvelashvili told DW how his country deals with its nuclear-armed neightbor the the north.
PoliticsNovember 2, 2017
Karte Republik Abchasien mit Hauptstadt Sochumi

Man blows himself up at TV station in Abkhazia

Regional leaders said were yet to identify the "bearded" assailant, saying it was too soon to speak of a terror attack.
ConflictsOctober 17, 2016
Georgien Tbilisi - Papst Franziskus und der Orthodoxe Patriach Ilia II

Pope arrives in ex-Soviet Georgia

Pope Francis has begun a visit to Georgia by calling for peace, while trying not to get embroiled in a regional dispute.
ReligionSeptember 30, 2016
Russland Raul Chadschimba in Sotschi

Abkhazia leader calls for calm after riots

Government opponents have put Abkhazia on the brink of "chaos and degradation," said the leader of the disputed region.
July 6, 2016
Georgien Stadtansicht Sochumi

Annexing Abkhazia

Abkhazia, a puffer between Russia and Georgia, is considered to have "de facto independence." But what does that mean ex
October 15, 2015
Mikheil Saakashvili via Video nach Tiblisi geschaltet

Georgians protest against Russia - Abkhazia deal

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Tbilisi to protest against Russia's support of separatists in two Georgian regions. Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Tbilisi in civil wars in the early 1990s.
November 15, 2014
Opposition supporters storm the office of Abkhazian President Alexander Ankvab in Sukhumi (Photo: David Avidzba/RIA Novosti)

Abkhazia's dilemma

Little change is expected after the election as the disputed state remains dependent on Russia.
August 23, 2014
Abchasien Demonstranten stürmen Präsidentenpalast in Sochumi

Unrest in Abkhazia

Protests have erupted in Abkhazia, a Caucasus region recognized by Russia and few others which broke from Georgia after the 1991 Soviet collapse. Russian agencies say the region's leader has fled the capital Sukhumi.
May 28, 2014
A picture of the subtropical paradise of Abkhazia.

Whither Abkhazia?

Abkhazia balances its ties to Russia with a desire for independence, so whither its future?
March 17, 2014
Im Schatten Sotschis (Bildergalerie)

The scars of conflict in Abkhazia

Abkhazia, a self-proclaimed republic, was once heralded as the subtropical jewel of the Soviet Union. Today, it's in limbo. After the breakup of the Soviet Union the region went to war with Georgia in the early 1990's and declared independence. There was another conflict between the two sides in 2008. The scars of those conflicts remain as Jacob Resneck discovered when he visited Abkhazia.
March 14, 201406:04 min
Ukrainian servicemen at the Pokryshkin airbase at Belbek in Sevastopol, Crimea. (Photo: ITAR-TASS / Stanislav Krasilnikov)

Applying history in Crimea

Comparing Crimea to the Caucasus is over-simplified, but could help policy makers understand Russia.
March 8, 2014
Bildergalerie Im Schatten Sotschis

In Sochi’s shadow – Abkhazia’s ambitions

Abkhazia: In Sochi’s shadow
February 25, 201413 images
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks at a meeting marking the 100th anniversary of the Russian Olympic Committee in Moscow, Friday, Nov. 25, 2011. (Foto:RIA Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool/AP/dapd)

Putin bans Olympics protests

Vladimir Putin has banned protests during the Winter Olympics. A decree designates Olympic venues, ports, train stations and road checkpoints as "controlled zones" where all people and belongings will be searched.
August 23, 2013
Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili

'It's about restoring justice'

The Georgian Prime Minister says he's not used the courts to undermine opposition.
July 2, 2013
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili speaks at a campaign rally for his United National Movement in Tbilisi, Georgia (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)

Close vote

In a dirty election campaign, government and opposition in Georgia are fighting for voters.
October 1, 2012
Ice Arena 'Shaiba' under construction in Sochi

Russia foils Olympic plot

Russia's security service has thwarted a plot to stage attacks during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, according to the country's anti-terrorist committee. Moscow alleges that Chechen rebels were behind the plans.
May 10, 2012
Leonid Tibilov gets in his car by a polling station

Ex-KGB wins in South Ossetia

The breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia has held a presidential run-off election, picking a former KGB chief who is supported by Russia. The election was rejected by Georgia as illegitimate.
April 9, 2012
Georgian President Saakashvili and Russian President Medvedev

Home stretch

Russia and Georgia reach a compromise that would clear the way for Russian WTO membership.
November 3, 2011
A woman casts her vote

Abkhazia poll

Former Communist official wins presidential vote in the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia.
August 27, 2011
Voter in Abkhazia

Snap election

Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia goes to the polls to vote for a new president.
August 26, 2011
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

A new Soviet Union?

Putin's calls for a possible annexation of Belarus and South Ossetia spark widespread criticism.
August 4, 2011
S-300 anti-aircraft missiles

Russian missiles

Abkhazia announces possession of Russian missiles in a bid to demonstrate sovereignty.
August 25, 2010
S-300 missiles

Rising tensions

Russia says it has deployed air defense missiles in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia.
August 12, 2010
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

Russia-Georgia ties

Russia's president vows to strengthen ties with breakaway Georgian region Abkhazia.
August 9, 2010
Russian soldiers at a checkpoint

Border reopened

Georgia and Russia have reopened their border for the first time since 2006.
March 1, 2010
Russian troops man a gun during training in Georgia's separatist region of Abkhazia

Russian base deal

Russia has sparked controversy with a deal to build an army base in Georgia's rebel Abkhazia region.
February 18, 2010
Sergei Bagapsch delivering a speech in Sochumi

Bagapsh re-election

The EU and the US chide Abkhazia over first election since Russia recognized its independence.
December 15, 2009
Sergej Bagapsh

Abkhazia votes

Abkhazia has re-elected leader for the first time since Russia recognized its independence.
December 14, 2009
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

Sole responsibility

The Russian president's push for control of foreign troop deployments causes concern in neighbors.
December 11, 2009
A cross on a circle with a pen lying next to it

Abkhazia ballot

Separatist Abkhazia is gearing up for presidential elections which Georgia deems illegal.
December 11, 2009
South Ossetian separatist fighters wave a Kalashnikov in Tskhinvali

South Ossetia war

A new report finds both Russia and Georgia broke international law during their 2008 conflict.
September 30, 2009
South Ossetian separatist fighters fire Kalashnikovs and wave their white-yellow-red flag while riding in a car

Caucasus independence

A year after Russian recognition of separatist Caucasus regions, independence is no closer.
August 26, 2009
Putin greeting residents of the capital

Tensions in Georgia

Vladimir Putin makes a surprise visit to the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia.
August 12, 2009
Members of an EU observer mission arrive at the airport in Tbilisi, Georgia

EU in Georgia

Russia has praised EU monitors in Georgia but ruled out any American participation.
August 5, 2009
South Ossetian separatist fighters

Georgia mission expires

With the end of the UN and OSCE missions in Georgia, the EU has been left to pick up the pieces.
June 29, 2009
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

NATO and Russia

After nearly a year of silence the Russia-NATO Council has re-convened, but differences persist.
June 28, 2009
A UN security council meeting on the Caucasus, which took place in August

Georgia tensions

Russia votes against the extension of a UN mission in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia.
June 16, 2009
Russian troops ride atop armored vehicles

Russian walkout

The European Union is hopeful talks aimed at bringing peace to the Caucasus can be salvaged.
May 19, 2009
NATO member flags fly under a large NATO banner

No hidden agenda

NATO says the war games it is involved with in Georgia this month have no alterior motive.
May 5, 2009
Youth fractions of opposition parties protest at Tbilisi's Freedom square on Wednesday, April 8, 2009.

National disobedience

Georgia's opposition launches a "national disobedience campaign" as Saakashvili stands firm.
April 10, 2009
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili

Georgian protests

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili faces a strong challenge from rivals wanting to unseat him.
April 9, 2009
Russian and European Union flags

EU Warning

Russia would commit a serious violation if it increased troops in Georgian regions, the EU warns.
February 6, 2009
Russian troops ride atop armored vehicles and trucks near the village of Khurcha in Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia

Close But No Cigar

The OSCE security summit ended without a joint declaration but its head still called it a success.
December 5, 2008