Andrew Andersen

ETHNIC MAKEUP OF ABKHAZIA

BEFORE & AFTER THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF 1992-1993

According to 01.01.1979 census

Ethnic group	amount	%
APSUA	83 000	17.1
GEORGIANS	213 000	43.8
RUSSIANS	80 000	16.5
ARMENIANS	73 000	15
GREEKS	14 000	3
UKRAINIANS	10 000	2.1
OTHERS (JEWS, ESTONIANS, GERMANS, ETC…)	13 000	2.5
TOTAL	486 000	100

According to 01.01.1992 census

Ethnic group	amount	%
APSUA	94 767	17.7
GEORGIANS	244 872	45.7
RUSSIANS	76 413	14.3
ARMENIANS	78 041	14.6
OTHERS (GREEKS, UKRAINIANS, JEWS, ESTONIANS, GERMANS, ETC…)	40 968	7.7
TOTAL	535 061	100

The below map shows ethnic composition of Abkhazia’s 6 districts and two major cities before ethnic cleansing.

The “pies” clearly show that Georgians (red section) formed the largest ethnic group except Gagra, Gudauta and Tkwarcheli districts. In Gagra ethnic majority was shared almost equally between Georgians an Armenians (yellow section) whereas Apsua (green section) were dominant in Gudauta and Tkwarcheli. In the district of Gali, Georgians formed almost 100% of total population.

AFTER THE WAR AND ETHNIC CLEANSING OF 1992-1993:

The below results of 1997 census demonstrate the shocking decrease of Abkhazia’s population from 535 061 in 1992, to 145 986 in 1997. That leaves Abkhazia with the total loss of 71% of its pre-war population in spite of the fact that rught after ethnic cleansing, Abkhazia accepted thousands of immigrants from Russia, Turkey and Arab countries.

More than of Abkhazia’s pre-war population was massacred or forced to flee to Georgia, Russia, Greece, Israel and other countries their property confiscated, re-sold or destroyed.

In many cases Georgians were slaughtered not only for their ethnic background but for Georgian last names or “Georgian appearance”

According to 01.01.1997 census

Ethnic group	amount	%
APSUA	53 993	37
GEORGIANS	43 442	29.7
RUSSIANS	18 110	12.4
ARMENIANS	17 747	12.2
OTHERS	12 694	8.7
TOTAL	145 986	100

The below map shows ethnic composition of Abkhazia’s 6 districts and two major cities after ethnic cleansing.

The “pies” now show that Apsua (green section) became dominant in 4 out of 6 districts except Gulripshi and Gali where Georgians are still the largest group (red section) and in both the cities of Sukhumi and Ochamchire formed the largest ethnic group except Gagra, Gudauta and Tkwarcheli districts.

SOURCES:

Brook, S.,            Population of the World, (Rus.), Moscow, Nauka,1986

Nadareishvili, T., Plot against Georgia, (Rus.), Tbilisi, Pirveli Stamba,2002

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