Aug 15, 2006

Abkhazia: Marking of 14th Anniversary


Abkhazia on Monday 14 August marked the 14th anniversary of the beginning of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. The unrecognized republic regards this day as the day of remembrance of Fatherland’s protectors. Memorial meetings were held in all Abkhazian cities and districts
Abkhazia on Monday marked the 14th anniversary of the beginning of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. The un-recognized republic regards this day as the day of remembrance of Fatherlands protectors.

On August 14, 1992, troops of the Georgian State Council entered Abkhazian territory without warning and launched military operations against Abkhazian police, the only power-wielding structure Sukhumi had at that time. The armed conflict lasted for 413 days and ended in Abkhazias victory on September 30, 1993. Over 12,000 troops were involved in combat operations. According to the Defence Ministry of the unrecognised republic, over 2,700 men were killed and more than 5,000 wounded.

The Georgian authorities have information that over 300,000 Abkhazian residents, 240,000 of them Georgians, became refugees. Most of them now reside in various Georgian districts.
Some 57,000 refugees returned to Abkhazia, mainly to the Gali district bordering on Georgia, according to the information of the United Nations mission in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone and of the headquarters of the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of the CIS.

Abkhazian leaders and public on Monday laid wreaths and bunches of flowers at the Monument of Glory in central Sukhumi. Memorial meetings were held in all Abkhazian cities and districts.