Battle of Sukhumi (1992)

Part of the War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)

War in Abkhazia 1992
| Date| 14 August 12:00[1] \- 18 August 1992[clarification needed]

|

Location|

Sukhumi, Abkhazia, Georgia

Result|

Georgian victory

* Abkhazian separatists retreated to Gudauta

Belligerents
Georgia|  Abkhazia
Commanders and leaders
Tengiz Kitovani[2]|  Sergei Dbar
Units involved
Georgian National Guard|  Abkhaz National Guard
Abkhaz MVD troops
Strength
1000[2]|  300[citation needed]
Casualties and losses
At least 50 killed[3]

* v
* t
* e

War in Abkhazia

* 1st Sukhumi
* Gagra
* Tkvarcheli
* Ochamchire
* Gumista
* Kamani (massacre)
* 2nd Sukhumi

The Battle of Sukhumi took place on August 14, 1992 12:00, between Abkhazian separatists and Georgian National Guard. The battle marked the start of 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia.

## Background

[edit]

On 23 July 1992, the Abkhaz faction of Abkhazia's legislative body, Supreme Council, announced its sovereignty from Georgia. However, this decision was taken without necessary quorum as the Georgian faction of the Supreme Council had boycotted the session. To respond to this situation, Eduard Shevardnadze, new leader of Georgia, had interrupted his trip to Western Georgia, where the Civil War had been going on between his government and supporters of former President, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, ousted during the December 1991 Coup. Shevardnadze announced that the Abkhaz decision had been taken without consulting and considering the opinion of the majority of Abkhasian population.[4] According to 1989 census, 45.7% of Abkhazia's population was Georgian, 17.8% Abkhazian, while the rest were other ethnicities.[5]

## Sukhumi

[edit]

On 11 August 1992, in a hit-and-run campaign, armed supporters of former Georgian president kidnapped Georgian Interior Minister, Roman Gventsadze, and five other officials in the town of Zugdidi. In response, Shevardnadze declared battle against them and sent troops to the town, which borders Abkhazia.[6] The rebels proceeded to take the hostages to an unknown hiding-place in Abkhazia. The Georgian troops entered Abkhazia to free hostages, but also to enforce security at unprotected railroads, since the area was only loosely controlled by the government due to insurgency and the railroads were often robbed by unknown bands in that location, with one out of every 10 trains being targeted on average.[7] However, the separatist militias clashed with the Georgian troops and the battle for Sokhumi began. Georgian tanks and APC's moved through the streets in Sukhumi, battling Abkhaz militias who were armed with machine guns and formed barricades in the streets, while hurling Molotov cocktails as they lacked heavy anti-tank weapons.[2] Georgian units used artillery against Abkhaz separatists in the places they controlled within the city.[citation needed]

Despite Abkhaz resistance, the Georgian units were heavily armed and took the city within a matter of days. On 18 August, the Parliament of Abkhazia was stormed by the Georgian National Guard, and the Georgian flag was raised on the Council of Ministers buildings. All of Sukhumi was taken by August 18.[2]

## Casualties and aftermath

[edit]

On August 16, 19 people were killed and 39 severely injured, but on August 18 the death toll has increased to at least 50 people killed.[3] Abkhaz separatists retreated to Guduata, and started to arm themselves for a counterattack.[2][3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "JPRS Report; Central Eurasia; Military Affairs" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. 21 October 1992.
2. ^ a b c d e "Georgia/Abkhazia: Violations of the Laws of War and Russia's Role in the Conflict: Acts of Lawlessness During the First Two Months of Fighting, August to September 1992". Human Rights Watch Reports. 7 (7). 1995. Archived from the original on 20 February 2001.
3. ^ a b c "Georgia: Violent events in Sukhumi and Tsalenjikha between April and August 1992; persons in charge of Georgian national security and law enforcement; roles of Colonels Kalandia and Maisuradze in Sukhumi and Tsalenjikha". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 16 January 2004. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014.
4. ^ "New ethnic dispute in Georgia". UPI. 25 July 1992. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
5. ^ "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года. Распределение городского и сельского населения областей республик СССР по полу и национальности". Demoscope.ru (in Russian).
6. ^ "'Forces of evil' scupper Shevardnadze peace drive". Independent. 12 August 1992.
7. ^ "As Georgia Chief, Shevardnadze Rides Whirlwind". The New York Times. 25 August 1992. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Abkhaz–Georgian conflict

Key events|

* April 9 tragedy
* 1989 Sukhumi riots
* 1991 Abkhazian New Union Treaty referendum
* 1991–1993 Georgian Civil War
* 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia
* 1992 Battle of Sukhumi
* October 1992 Battle of Gagra
* 1992–1993 Siege of Tkvarcheli
* July 1993 Kamani massacre
* September 1993 Transair Georgia airliner shootdowns
* September 1993 Sukhumi massacre
* Ethnic cleansing of Georgians
* 1993 Sochi agreement
* 1993–2009 United Nations observer mission
* 1994 Moscow agreement
* 1998 War in Abkhazia
* 2001 Kodori crisis
* 2006 Kodori crisis
* 2007 Georgia helicopter incident
* 2007 Georgia plane downing incident
* 2007 Bokhundjara incident
* 2008 Georgian spy plane shootdowns
* 2008 Khurcha incident
* 2008 Abkhazia bombings
* 2008 Achamkhara incident
* 2008 Russo-Georgian War
* Battle off the coast of Abkhazia
* Battle of the Kodori Valley
* 2008 Post-war events
* 2009 Russo-Georgian relations
* 2014 Abkhazian revolution

Abkhazian side|

| Military forces|

* Military of Abkhazia
* Abkhazian Air Force
* Bagramyan Battalion
* Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus

|

Key leaders|

* Vladislav Ardzinba
* Sergei Bagapsh †
* Alexander Ankvab
* Raul Khajimba

Georgian side|

| Military forces|

* Georgian Armed Forces
* Georgian Air Force
* Coast Guard of Georgia
* Mkhedrioni
* White Legion
* Forest Brothers

|

Key leaders|

* Zviad Gamsakhurdia †
* Eduard Shevardnadze
* Mikheil Saakashvili
* Giorgi Margvelashvili
* Salome Zourabichvili

See also|

* Abkhazia–Georgia separation line
* Tatunashvili–Otkhozoria List

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