This Caucasian people had their own autonomous republic within the Soviet Republic of Georgia. Stalin, a Georgian, had included them arbitrarily. There were Georgians living in the territory alongside the Abkhasians. This is often the case when a nation is part of a multi-national empire. As in the Balkans and in the former states of the British Empire friction and hostility occur when a new sovereignty is created.

On the declaration of independence of Georgia the Abkhasian government declared its own independence of Georgia. However, it is not recognised by any other state except Russia.

Under Eduard Shevardnadze the Georgians' army tried to bring Abkhasia under direct Georgian control. They failed and the large minority population of Georgians were expelled as refugees, but much of the city was destroyed.

In August 2008 Russian troops in the republic invaded Georgia in an attempt to drive the Georgians out of the small part of the territory they controlled.

The Russian president Medvedyev has announced Russian recognition of the state's independence.

Neal Ascherson on post-Soviet mini-states

Avkhasian - a Caucasian language

Russian (second language)

Gangster capitalism. Decay of the Soviet economy.

For example the railways are abandoned.

Still bad.