Some key dates in Abkhazia’s history:
756 – Independent kingdom formed.
985 – Becomes part of Georgia, later regaining independence.
1578 – Comes under Turkish rule.
1810 – Russia declares Abkhazia a protectorate.
1864 – Russia annexes Abkhazia.
1918 – Independent Georgian state – including Abkhazia – declared in wake of Russian Revolution.
1921 – Red Army invades, Georgia absorbed into emerging Soviet Union. Abkhazia becomes a separate soviet republic, with the ambiguous status of a treaty republic associated with the Georgian soviet republic.
1931 – Soviet authorities incorporate Abkhazia into Georgia.
1991 – Georgia declares independence.
1992-93 – Georgia-Abkhazia War: Georgia sends troops to Abkhazia to halt moves for secession. Fierce fighting ends with Georgian forces being expelled from Abkhazia. Up to 30,000 people are killed. Before the war Georgians make up nearly half of Abkhazia’s population, but up to 250,000 Georgians and others are expelled, virtually halving Abkhazia’s population.
1994 – Ceasefire agreed, peacekeepers arrive, nearly all Russian.
1999 – Abkhazia declares independence. Few countries recognise this.
2008 – As war between Russian and Georgian forces breaks out in South Ossetia, Abkhaz forces clash with Georgian troops in the Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia. Russia sends in troops to support the Abkhazians. Georgian forces and civilians evacuate the last part of Abkhazia under Tbilisi’s control.
Russia formally recognises Abkhazia’s independence, following the Russian-Georgian war over South Ossetia.
2014 – Abkhazian Revolution: President Aleksandr Ankvab resigns after mass protests in Sukhumi and demonstrators storm his office. Russia and Abkhazia subsequently sign a “strategic partnership” agreement. Georgia accuses Moscow of seeking to annex Abkhazia.
2020 – Raul Khadzhimba becomes second president in six years to be forced from office by public protests.
2023 – Abkhazia signs agreement for Russia to build a permanent naval base in the Black Sea port of Ochamchire.