25 years since the Georgian-Abkhaz War: Georgia marks 27 September as the day Sukhumi fell
Georgia is observing one of the most solemn dates in its modern history: 27 September 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of Sukhumi, the day when the Georgian army withdrew from the capital of Abkhazia.
State institutions are flying flags at half-mast today across Georgia.
Families who lost their loved ones during military operations have gathered at the Heroes Memorial in Tbilisi to pay their respects.
War veterans and Georgian government officials are also present, reports Novosti-Gruzia.
• The armed conflict began in Abkhazia on 14 August 1992 and continued for 13 months and 13 days. It came to an end on 27 September 1993 and resulted in a loss for the Georgian armed forces against Abkhaz and North Caucasian military units. Various data sources indicate that the armed conflict cost 13,000 people their lives, and turned 300,000 people into internally displaced persons, most of whom were ethnic Georgians.
• After the August War of 2008, the Russian government recognised Abkhazia as an independent state. The Georgian government says the territory is occupied by Russia.
