Georgia marks 28 years since the fall of Sokhumi

By Khatia Bzhalava

Tuesday, September 28

Reportedly, more than 12,000 people died during the armed conflict and around 300,000 remain displaced.

State flags have been lowered at government buildings to honour the memory of those killed in the Abkhaz war.

It has been 28 years since the defeat of the Georgian Armed Forces and the fall of Sokhumi on September 27, 1993, following the military confrontation in Abkhazia that lasted 13 months and 13 days. Georgian officials, opposition leaders, Ambassadors and ordinary citizens gathered at the Heroes' Memorial yesterday and honoured the memory of those who died in the fight for the unity of the country. The national flags were lowered at government buildings in honour of the victims of the conflict.

Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia and his cabinet members - Grigol Liluashvili, Head of State Security Service of Georgia and Ruslan Abashidze, Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia laid a wreath at the Memorial and paid tribute to the memory of victims.

According to Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, “September 27 is one of the most painful days in the history of independent Georgia, reminding us of the devastating power of war and associated with the greatest pain and loss”. Zalkaliani also noted that it is the key priority of the government to “reunify Georgian people and build a peaceful, strong European country without the dividing lines,”

Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Tea Akhvlediani stressed that the day exemplifies the ‘immeasurable’ pain and grief of hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee their homes.

“We should continue the peace process together in the selfless spirit of our fallen heroes, to unite our people and achieve the common well-being of Abkhaz and Georgian people in a common, strong, European state,” she said.

Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava underscored that September 27, 1993, is a very tragic day in the history of Georgia’s independence that needs to be properly delivered, especially, to the younger generations. “I am certain that our peace policy, which has great support from international partners, will show results soon and we will unite the country,” said Kuchava.

US Ambassador Kelly C. Degnan, Senior Defense Official COL Stephanie Bagley, and members of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Georgia laid wreaths at Heroes Square as well.

“We remember this day with sorrow and with the hope that remains in the hearts of so many internally displaced people,” reads the statement published by the US Embassy.

The armed conflict began on August 14, 1992, when Georgia’s Armed Forces aimed to defend the Sochi-Enguri section of the railway was confronted by Abkhaz Gvardia, resulting in hostilities in Abkhazia. On September 16, 1993, the Abkhaz side violated the July 27 Sochi Agreement on a Ceasefire and Separation of Forces and attacked Sokhumi. The battle for Sokhumi lasted for 11 days. According to the collected data, between 13,000 to 20,000 Georgians died in Abkhazia, while 300,000 people became internally displaced.