ABKHAZIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF GEORGIA Special Thanks to David Gigauri for Contributing to Article
1918 1921
• Georgia becomes independent, with League of Nations (UN predecessor) accepted borders shown on map Abkhazia is included up to the city of Tuapse .
• In the war with the Russians for independence, Russian general Lukomsky notes in his letter that Georgian population is cleared from Sochi region. Unfortunately Georgian population of that region never recovered.
1921 1931
• Georgia becomes Soviet. Abkhazia within the new Soviet Georgia is incorporated into Transcaucasian Soviet Republic of the Soviet Union, as a federative unit with Armenia and Azerbaijan . The whole Transcaucasian Soviet Republic is governed by ethnic Georgians Sergo Ordzhonikidze (1921-26), Mamia Orakhelashvili (1926-29, 1932), Vissarion Lominadze (1929-31).
1932 1991
• Georgia becomes a separate soviet republic within the Soviet Union . Abkhazia is part of Georgia as an autonomous republic.
• Soviet Union population census. Figures for Abkhazian Autonomy:
Year |
1959 |
1970 |
1979 |
1989 |
Georgians |
158221 |
199595 |
213322 |
239872 |
Abkhazians |
61193 |
77276 |
83097 |
93267 |
Armenians |
64425 |
74860 |
73350 |
76541 |
Russians |
86715 |
92889 |
79730 |
74914 |
Greeks |
9101 |
13114 |
13642 |
14664 |
Total |
404738 |
486959 |
486082 |
525061 |
In 1959 Georgians made up 39,09%, Abkhazians 15,12%.
In 1970 Georgians made up 40,99%, Abkhazians 15,87%.
In 1979 Georgians made up 43,89%, Abkhazians 17,10%.
In 1989 Georgians made up 45,69%, Abkhazians 17,76%
• During the World War II, Abkhazians (Apsua) are not required to fight on the same level as other nationalities due to the minority status. This resulted in many Georgian Mengrelians in Abkhazia to register as Abkhazians. This meant that Abkhaz population grew, and you still now meet Abkhazians with surnames, which have Georgian roots and ending ia, -ua ava, - shi e.g. Chitinava (Bird), Lomia (Lion), Makharia (Happy) etc.
1991 Present
• Georgia becomes independent. Abkhazia is part of Georgia as an autonomous republic accepted by the UN and all countries.
• Up to 90% of Abkhazians (Apsua) living in Abkhazia today, have a Georgian mother or grandmother. That is not taking into consideration the previously mentioned Georgian Mengrelians who have been written down as Abkhazians during the WWII.
