A Short Chronicle of Events of the 1992-93 Georgian-Abkhazian War

 

August 14, 1992

 

Georgian troops enter Abkhazia, move through Gal, Ochamchira, and Gulripsh, and occupy the eastern corner of Sukhum.

August 18, 1992

 

Georgian troops take control of Sukhum. They remove the State flag from atop the Government House. In the Ochamchira region, which is in their hands, partisan bands actively oppose them. In the city of Grozny, the Parliament of the Congress  of the Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus adopts a resolution to dispatch to Abkhazia groups of volunteer fighters.

 

August 19, 199

 

Georgian troops take control of the city of Gagra.

 

August 25, 1992

 

The commander of the Georgian army, G. Qarqarashvili, issues an ultimatum: the Abkhaz are to halt their unsuccessful war within 24 hours. "Even if 100,000 out of the total number of Georgians perish," Qarqarashvili states, "we shall wipe out the entire population of you Abkhazians."

 

September 3, 1992

 

In Moscow, B. Yeltsin, E. Shevardnadze, and V. Ardzinba hold a meeting. They sign a summary document, in which it is    agreed that the war shall be halted from 12 o'clock on September 5; that the opposing military forces shall be pulled back everywhere; that Georgian fighters should choose some other place for relocation; and that the legally elected authorities of Abkhazia shall  be allowed to resume their work.

 

September 5, 1992

 

The two sides cease fire and begin mutual reconciliation. Then, at 12.10, Georgian artillery breaks the peace by shelling    Abkhaz strongholds in the village of Eshera. At 22.30 Georgian fighters renew the offensive.

 

September 9, 1992

 

Abkhazians and Georgians negotiating in Sukhum agree to cease fire on the 10th of the month. Georgian fighters disregard this agreement, as well as two subsequent cease fire agreements on the 15th and 17th of the month.

 

October 1-6, 1992

 

Georgian troops are expelled from Gagra and its environs. On the 1st of the month at 17.00 hours the Abkhaz fighters attack, taking control of the village of Kolkhida (Psakhara). Georgian air force starts to bomb Gagra, resulting in many civilian casualties. At a meeting in Sukhum E. Shevardnadze declares: "Gagra always belonged to us and it must continue to belong to us -- we shall soon get it back." Abkhaz fighters liberate the hamlet of Leselidze (Gechripsh) and set up the Abkhaz flag on the Abkhaz-Russian border. Georgian troops cross the Psou and flee headlong to Russian territory. They surrender their weapons to the Russian border guards.

 

October 23, 1992

 

Georgian special forces in Sukhum burn down the state historical archive of Abkhazia and the archive of the Institute of Abkhazian language, history and literature.

 

December 14, 1992

 

Georgian troops in the village of Lata shoot down a Russian MI-8 helicopter with 60 passengers, including women and children, all of whom perish.

 


Second Year of the War

 

July 27, 1993

 

An agreement to end the war is signed in Sochi.

 

August 9, 1993

 

In a statement sent to B. Yeltsin and Boutros Ghali, V. Ardzinba draws attention to the contempt with which the Georgian side is treating the Sochi agreement, continuously shelling Abkhaz military divisions and ignoring the timetable for the withdrawal of Georgian military forces from Abkhazia.

 

August 22

 

According to a statement by the joint commission for exercising control, the Abkhaz side had acted in accordance with the timetable for the pulling back its forces, but the Georgian side did not fulfill its obligation.

 

August 24

 

B. Yeltsin and V. Ardzinba meet in Moscow. The Russian president is made to understand that the Georgian side is ignoring the Sochi agreement.

 

September 16-24

 

The final assault by the Abkhaz fighters. On 16th September they begin attacks on the Eastern front. On 17th of the they take control of the river Gumsta. On 20th of the month they order the Georgians to lay down their weapons and withdraw, departing via a safe corridor, but the Georgians do not answer. On 21-26th of the month crossfire continues on the main streets of Sukhum. Abkhaz fighters attack successfully at Ochamchira.

 

September 30

 

Abkhazia is liberated.