Abkhazia was a UNPO member between 1991 and 2020. 

Abkhazia is located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and bordered by Russia to the north and Georgia to the east. Following the 1992-1993 war with Georgia, Abkhazia declared independence and has since been governed by a de facto administration, although it remains internationally recognised by only a handful of UN member states—namely Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, and Syria. 

During its time as a UNPO member, Abkhazia used the platform to advocate for international recognition of its sovereignty, reparations from Georgia for the war’s destruction, and compensation for the economic impact of CIS-imposed embargoes beginning in 1996. It also called for the right of return for ethnic Abkhazians and their descendants displaced during the 19th-century Caucasian War, particularly those now living in Turkey. While Georgia considers Abkhazia part of its sovereign territory, Abkhazia continues to assert its right to self-determination and has maintained autonomous governance since 1993, despite political shifts—including the resignation of former president Raul Khajimba in 2020. Through UNPO, Abkhazia sought to present its case to the international community and uphold its national identity amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. 

Abkhazia’s cultural identity is deeply rooted in its ancient traditions, language, and community values. Central to Abkhaz society is apsuara—a traditional code of conduct that shapes social behaviour, hospitality, and the collective sense of honour and respect. The Abkhaz language, part of the Northwest Caucasian language family, is a vital marker of national identity, preserved through oral storytelling, folklore, and songs. Abkhazia’s cultural heritage includes rich musical traditions, polyphonic singing, and vibrant dance, along with epic legends like the Nart sagas and tales of the folk hero Abraskil. Religion in the region is diverse, blending Orthodox Christianity and Sunni Islam with revived indigenous beliefs centred on nature and ancestral reverence. These cultural foundations not only define Abkhaz identity but also serve as a unifying force for the Abkhaz people, both in the homeland and across the diaspora.

Abkhazia has a long and complex history intertwined with Georgia. In medieval times, it was one of several feudal principalities within the Georgian sphere, and the name Apkhazeti was often used to describe all of western Georgia between the 8th and 11th centuries. The Russian Empire annexed Abkhazia in 1864, prompting a mass exodus of its Muslim population to the Ottoman Empire in an event known as Muhajirstvo, which significantly changed the region’s demographics. During Georgia’s brief independence from 1918 to 1921, Abkhazia had a special republican status with treaty ties to Georgia. In 1931, Abkhazia was made an autonomous republic within Soviet Georgia. Under Staline, Georgian settlement increased, and Abkhaz culture was suppressed. Although some cultural rights were restored after the 1950s, the Abkhaz remained politically and demographically marginalised. By 1998, they made up only 17.8% of Abkhazia’s population, fueling resentment over issues like political representation, language policy, and education.

Georgia’s push for independence in the late 1980s heightened Abkhaz fears, leading to clashes in 1989. A brief power-sharing deal in 1991 collapsed when Georgian paramilitary forces entered Abkhazia in 1992. With support from North Caucasian volunteers and elements of the Russian military, Abkhaz forces defeated the Georgians in a brutal conflict marked by ethnic cleansing, civilian atrocities, and mass displacement. Most of the region’s Georgian population fled and remained displaced.

Since the 1994 ceasefire, Abkhazia has functioned as a de facto independent state with limited international recognition. Peacekeeping forces under Russian command were deployed, and UN-led negotiations have repeatedly stalled due to disagreements over whether to prioritise the return of displaced Georgians or to resolve Abkhazia’s status first. While some Georgians returned to the Gali district, many were displaced again after renewed violence in 1998. 

On 29 May 2011, President Sergey Bagapsh passed away unexpectedly. Consequently, special presidential elections were held on 26 August 2011. Due to Abkhazia’s status as a de facto but largely unrecognised state, the elections represented an important step towards successful democracy and equitable treatment of all Abkhazian residents, regardless of ethnicity. Following an invitation by the Abkhaz authorities, UNPO conducted an election observation mission (EOM) to Abkhazia during the elections won by Alexander Ankvab with 54.86% of the votes.

On 24 August 2014, presidential elections were again held again – this time following demonstrations in late May, which ultimately led to the resignation of President Ankvab. Abkhazia’s decision to invite international observers, including UNPO, to monitor the elections signals that there is political will and commitment to ensure transparency and legitimacy of the democratic process in the country. After a first round Raul Khajimba was elected as President of Abkhazia with 50.57% of the votes.

On 24 November 2014, a ‘Treaty of Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ was signed between Abkhazia and Russia, foreseeing stronger cooperation in foreign, defense, economic and social policy between the two parties. While this treaty signifies a new period in the bilateral relations between Abkhazia and Russia, Abkhazia managed to integrate its own political demands by changing and removing parts from the Moscow draft. As a result of the signing of the treaty, Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised subsidies worth more than $270 million over the next three years.