| | Abkhazia
| |
Abkhazia is a region located in the Caucasus. It is a de facto independent republic, with no international recognition. It is located within the internationally recognized borders of the Russian Federation to the north and borders of Georgia on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. It is an Autonomous republic, with Sukhumi as its capital, bordering the rerion of Samegrelo- Zemo Svaneti to the east, under Georgia's official subdivision. The geographical terrain is extremely mountainous. The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range spreads along the region's northern border, with its spurs – the Gagra, Bzyb and Kodori ranges – disecting the area into a number of deep, well-watered valleys. The highest peaks of Abkhazia are in the northeast and east and some exceeding 4,000 meters above sea level.
The landscape of Abkhazia ranges from coastal forests and citrus plantations, to eternal snows and glaciers to the north of the region. Abkhazia's complex topographic setting has spared most of the territory from significant human development, its cultivated fertile lands produce tea, tobacco, wine and fruits, a regular product of the local agricultural sector.
Small rivers originating in the Caucasus Mountains are the chief source of irrigation. Major rivers are Kodori, Ghalidza, Bzyb and Gumista. Inguri serves as a boundary between Abkhazia and Georgia proper and Psou river separates the region from Russia. Abkhazia has various periglacial and carter lakes, the most important among them is lake Ritsa.
Abkhazia covers an area of approximately 8,600 km² at the western end of Georgia. |
| |
| |
| Climate |
| |
| Abkhazia has a mild climate majorly because of the proximity to Black sea and the Caucasus that acts as shield. The costal areas experiences subtropical climate with temperature around 15 degree Celsius. The climatic conditions at higher elevations differ from maritime mountainous to cold and summerless. Abkhazia receives high amounts of precipitation, but its unique micro-climate which is transitional from subtropical to mountain, along its coast causes lower levels of humidity. |
| |
| Government |
| |
The Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, formerly known as The Council of Ministers of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic, is the only government that Georgia recognizes as the legal government of Abkhazia. The Council of Ministers was created during the Soviet period which included the Presidium where representatives from all regions in Abkhazia governed the affairs of the republic. The members of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Presidium included ethnic Georgians, Abkhaz and Armenians.
Abkhaz ASSR was divided into 6 raions, in soviet times, named after their centres Gagra, Gudauta, Ochamchira, Sukhumi, Gulripsh and Gali. In 1995, administrative division of the Republic of Abkhazia remains the same with one exception with a new Tkvarcheli raion that was carved from the Ochamchire and Gali raions. |
| |
| People |
| |
Total Population in Abkhazia is about 215972, with about 45953 Georgians, 94606 Abkhaz, 23420 Russians, 44870Armenians and 1,486 Greeks. Abkhas is the mother tongue. The Abkhazians are majorly Orthodox Christians with about 75% of followers and 10% of the Sunni Muslims. The ethnic Armenians living in Abkhazia belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church.
According to the constitutions of Georgia, Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and de facto Republic of Abkhazia the adherents of all religions have equal rights before the law. |
| |
| Economy |
| |
The economy is heavily incorporated with Russia, so much to use Russian ruble as its currency. Tourism is a pivotal industry and the Abkhaz de facto authorities claim that the organized tourists chiefly from Russia visit more than 100,000 in recent years, compared to about 200,000 in the 1990 before the war. The 2006 the estimated that about1.5 million tourist had visited Abkhazia. Regardless of the fact that Russia has established a visa regime with Georgia, Russian passport-holders do not require a visa to enter Abkhazia. The European Union passports holders require an Entry Permit Letter issued by the de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sukhumi, against which a visa will be issued upon presentation of the Letter to the MFA.
Agricultural products to be found in Abkhazia includes tea, tobacco, wine and fruits especially tangerines, have stabilized the sector. Electricity is majorly supplied by the Inguri hydroelectric power station located on the Inguri River between Abkhazia and Georgia proper and operated jointly by Abkhaz and Georgians.
Numerous Russian entrepreneurs and some Russian municipalities have invested or plan to invest in Abkhazia, which also includes the Moscow municipality after the Mayor of Moscow, Yury Luzhkov, signed an agreement on economic cooperation between Moscow and Abkhazia.
Corruption, the continuing effects of war has infected the economy of the region |
| |
| |
| | |
| | | |
