It has been 31 years since the fall of Sokhumi, the capital of Abkhazia.
Georgian officials, opposition leaders, and ordinary citizens commemorated the 31th anniversary of the fall of Sokhumi on September 27, 1993, marking the end of armed conflict in Abkhazia in 1992-1993.
The military confrontation in Abkhazia started on August 14, 1992. The “Abkhazian Guard” created by the decree of Vladislav Ardzinba, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, opened fire on the National Guard of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia, which entered the territory of Abkhazia to protect the Sochi-Ingiri railway section, near the village of Okhurei, Ochamchire district.
The State Council decided to send the National Guard to Abkhazia to protect the section of the Sochi-Ingiri railway on August 11, after an agreement with Vladislav Ardzinba. Despite the agreement, the “Abkhazian Guard” resisted the Georgian National Guard in Ochamchire and Gulrifshi districts and in the city of Sokhumi, which led to the start of hostilities in Abkhazia.
The military conflict in Abkhazia lasted 13 months and 13 days and ended on September 27, 1993, with the fall of Sokhumi and the defeat of the Georgian armed forces.
Reportedly, more than 12,000 people died during the armed conflict. Around 300,000 remain displaced. The region still remains occupied by Russia until today.
