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What happened to Abkhazia, and what is its status under Georgian law?

A short history of the conflict and the parties' legal positions.

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Short answer

In Soviet times Abkhazia was an autonomous republic within the Georgian SSR, and after the armed conflict of 1992-1993 the Georgian authorities lost control of it. In 2008, after the August war, Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but Georgia and most UN member states regard them as part of Georgia. Under Georgian law they are occupied territories.

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Why

  1. Georgia's Law on Occupied Territories was adopted in 2008 and restricts entry and economic activity there.
  2. The conflicts forced many ethnic Georgians to leave Abkhazia, becoming internally displaced persons.
  3. Apart from Russia, only a handful of states have recognised Abkhazia's independence.

Details

South Ossetia, called the Tskhinvali region in Georgia, also left Tbilisi's control after the conflict of the early 1990s. For travellers the practical point is simple: Georgian law treats entering Abkhazia or South Ossetia from Russia as a violation.

Tip

Don't plan a trip to Abkhazia via Russia if you intend to visit Georgia; it breaks Georgian law.

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Sources

This answer describes the history and the parties' legal positions and makes no political assessment.

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