Abkhazia: Difference between revisions

{{main|International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia}}

[[File:Georgia high detail map.png|thumb|left|Map of Georgia highlighting Abkhazia (green) and [[South Ossetia]] (purple)]]

 

A majority of sovereign states recognise Abkhazia as an integral part of Georgia and support its [[territorial integrity]] according to the principles of [[international law]], although Belarus has expressed sympathy toward the recognition of Abkhazia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/29/content_9731534.htm |title=Diplomat: Belarus to recognise Abkhazia, South Ossetia soon |publisher=News.xinhuanet.com |date=29 August 2008 |access-date=22 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111091437/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/29/content_9731534.htm |archive-date=11 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Some have officially noted Abkhazia as under [[Russian-occupied territories in Georgia|occupation by the Russian military]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/release/?id=73BEE74C-31AD-4F39-B03B-F98889B70B33 |title=U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes Shaheen-Graham Resolution Affirming U.S. Support for Georgian Sovereignty |website=U.S. Senator for New Hempshire |date=29 July 2011 |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141206115711/http://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/release/?id=73bee74c-31ad-4f39-b03b-f98889b70b33 |archive-date=6 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2011-0514 |title=Negotiations of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement |website=European Parliament |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805173606/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2011-0514 |archive-date=5 August 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nato-pa.int/default.asp?SHORTCUT=2245 |title=RESOLUTION 382 ON THE SITUATION IN GEORGIA |website=NATO Parliamentary Assembly |access-date=31 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131545/http://www.nato-pa.int/default.asp?SHORTCUT=2245 |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> The United Nations has been urging both sides to settle the dispute through diplomatic dialogue and ratifying the final status of Abkhazia in the Georgian constitution.<ref name="hrwreport">[https://www.hrw.org/reports/pdfs/g/georgia/georgia953.pdf Full Report by Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch. Georgia/Abkhazia. Violations of the laws of war and Russia's role in the conflict] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119070959/https://www.hrw.org/reports/pdfs/g/georgia/georgia953.pdf |date=19 November 2015 }} Helsinki, March 1995</ref><ref>Chervonnaia, Svetlana Mikhailovna. Conflict in the Caucasus: Georgia, Abkhazia, and the Russian Shadow. Gothic Image Publications, 1994.</ref> However, the Abkhaz ''de facto'' government considers Abkhazia a sovereign country even if it is recognised by few other countries. In early 2000, then-UN Special Representative of the Secretary General Dieter Boden and the Group of Friends of Georgia, consisting of the representatives of Russia, the United States, Britain, France, and Germany, drafted and informally presented a document to the parties outlining a possible distribution of competencies between the Abkhaz and Georgian authorities, based on core respect for Georgian territorial integrity. The Abkhaz side, however, has never accepted the paper as a basis for negotiations.<ref>[https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eur/rls/fs/53745.htm The Abkhazia Conflict.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117125115/https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eur/rls/fs/53745.htm|date=17 November 2017}} [[U.S. Department of State]] Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. 28 July 2005. [https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eur/rls/fs/53745.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117125115/https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eur/rls/fs/53745.htm|date=17 November 2017}}</ref> Eventually, Russia also withdrew its approval of the document.<ref>[[Vladimir Socor]] (7 February 2006), [https://jamestown.org/program/moscow-kills-boden-paper-threatens-to-terminate-unomig-in-georgia/ Moscow kills Boden paper, threatens to terminate UNOMIG in Georgia.] ''Eurasia Daily Monitor'', Volume 3, Number 26. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016205130/http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?volume_id=414&issue_id=3610&article_id=2370748 |date=16 October 2006 }}</ref> In 2005 and 2008, the Georgian government offered Abkhazia a high degree of [[autonomy]] and possible [[Federal republic|federal structure]] within the borders and [[jurisdiction]] of Georgia.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

'''Partially recognised and unrecognised territories'''

* {{flagicon|South Ossetia}} [[South Ossetia]] recognised Abkhazia on 17 November 2006.<ref name="recognition1"/>

 

'''Former recognition'''