The present Chronicle embraces, basically, the period between 1989-1992, connected with the preparation and beginning of the Abkhazian war. The most important events outside Abkhazia, creating the historical background and context of the Abkhazian events, have been selected and included in the Chronicle. All the significant political acts of the past, primarily of the 1917-21 period, are briefly summarised, since they explain the movement of modern political thought, the peculiarities of the administrative-state system of the region, etc.

25-29 February 1917(10-13 March - Old Style)

The beginning of the February Democratic Revolution in Russia, the collapse of the Russian Autocratic Empire.

10 March 1917

The Committee on Social Security of Sukhumi District (a body of the provisional government of Russia), headed by Prince Shervashidze (Chachba) was formed.

20 October 1917

A delegation from Abkhazia (of the Committee on Social Security of Sukhumi District) participated in the signing in Vladikavkaz of a treaty on the establishment of a 'South-Eastern Union of Cossack troops, the Mountaineers of the Caucasus and the Free Peoples of the Steppes.'(which soon broke up).

7 November (25 October) 1917

The storming of the Winter Palace in Petrograd, overthrow of the Provisional Government, and seizure of power by Bolsheviks marked the beginning of the October Revolution.

8 November 1917

At the Congress of the Abkhazian people in Sukhumi the Abkhazian People's Soviet was formed. (Its composition and activities changed constantly and drastically between 1918-1921; nevertheless it played a leading part in the political life of Abkhazia. The Congress adopted a Declaration of the Congress of the Abkhazian People, which set the task of conducting further work towards self-determination of the Abkhazian people, as well as the Constitution of the Abkhazian People's Soviet.)

9 February 1918

In Tiflis (Tbilisi) an agreement on Abkhazia joining Georgia as an autonomy was reached between the representatives of the Abkhazian People's Soviet and the National Council of Georgia. Georgia was also to assist 'Abkhazia to re-establish its historical borders' (under the administrative system of the Russian Empire, Abkhazia was dismembered: Sukhumi district, formed in 1883, was a part of Kutaisi province, Gagra and its vicinity were subordinated to Sochi district of the Black Sea province).

10 February-25 May 1918

The Transcaucasian Sejm represents the interests of the Transcaucasian peoples in Tiflis (Tbilisi).

16-22 February 1918

The first attempt to establish the Bolshevik dictatorship (Soviet Power) in Abkhazia. A Military Revolutionary Committee (chaired by Ephrem Eshba) was set up in Sukhumi. The outrages committed by Bolshevik sailors of the Black Sea Fleet (from the cruiser Dakia, and the destroyer Derzki). Mass resistance to the Bolshevik usurpers of power was led by the Abkhazian People's Council. By 21 February the Military Revolutionary Committee was abolished.

8 April-17 May 1918

The second attempt to establish Soviet power in Abkhazia (it extended over the entire territory of the former Sukhumi district, excepting the Kodori (Ochamchire) area.

22 April 1918

The Transcaucasian Sejm declared the independence of the Transcaucasian Federal Democratic Republic from Soviet Russia(RSFSR).

17 May 1918

Liberation of Sukhumi and Sukhumi district from Bolsheviks by the troops of the Transcaucasian Federal Democratic Republic under the command of V. Jugeli.

26 May 1918

Georgia declared her independence. The process of the revival of Georgian statehood started. The Georgian Democratic Republic was created. Abkhazia, liberated from Soviet Power, also joined her.

8 June 1918

An agreement on providing internal and military support to Abkhazia was reached between the government of the Georgian Democratic Republic and the Abkhazian People's Council.

17-22 June 1918

Georgian troops under the command of General Mazniev (Mazniashvili) were introduced into Abkhazia. They were deployed along the coast from Tuapse to Sochi.

22-13 September 1918

A delegation of the Abkhazian People's Council appealed to the Command of the Russian Volunteer Army (General M.S. Alexeev, heading the Cossack formations of Kuban), with the request to liberate Abkhazia from the armed intervention of Georgia.

9-10 October 1918

The Georgian government dissolved the Abkhazian People's Soviet because of its attempted coup aimed at wresting Abkhazia from Georgia, arresting the conspirators who had established ties with the voluntary Army. Chkhikvishvili was appointed Extraordinary Commissar of Sukhumi District. Preparations for the elections to the Abkhazian People's Council started.

January 1919

General Denikin's Voluntary Army began to march on Sukhumi claiming Abkhazia from the Georgian government as a part 'of integral and indivisible Russia.' Georgian troops repulsed this aggression.

18-22 March 1919

The first session of the Abkhazian People's Soviet, re-elected on a democratic basis, adopted a resolution on Abkhazia joining the Democratic Republic of Georgia as an autonomous unit.

Spring 1920

Elections to the Constituent Assembly of Georgia (boycotted in several districts of Abkhazia).

26 April 1920

The address of the Chairman of the National Assembly of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) to Vladimir Ilich Lenin, proposing to establish diplomatic relations between Soviet Russia and the Turkish Republic.

7 May 1920

An agreement was signed between the Democratic Republic of Georgia and Soviet Russia, providing for non-interference in the internal affairs and recognition of the Democratic Republic of Georgia by Soviet Russia as an independent state within the borders including Abkhazia.

Summer-Autumn 1920

In Moscow the Caucasian Bureau of the RCP (B) (Russian Communist Party - Bolsheviks) stepped up its activities towards sending Abkhazian militants (boeviks) and propagandists (Eshba, Lakoba, Inal-lpa and others) to Turkey to conduct underground work and expand the influence of the Communist Party of Turkey (established in September 1920 in Baku) to strengthen links with the Abkhazian diaspora which was ready to render political assistance to Soviet Russia.

11-15 August 1920

The first Kuban-Black Sea Congress of the Working People of the Mountains in Ekaterinodar (Krasnodar) was held with the active participation of Abkhazian Bolsheviks (Eshba, Lakoba and others) in it.

End of February 1921

The llth Red Army invaded Georgia in breach of the Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Georgia and Soviet Russia of 7 May 1920.

21 February 1921

The Constituent Assembly of Georgia adopted the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Georgia and ratified the Provision on the recognition of Abkhazia as an autonomous part of Georgia.

25 February 1921

The units of the llth Red^Army occupied Tbilisi. In conditions of terror, following the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly and the overthrow of the legitimate government, an act on the re-establishment of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia was adopted.

March 4,1921

Establishment of Soviet Power (Bolshevik dictatorship) in Abkhazia.

6 March 1921

The Revolutionary Committee of Abkhazia (composed of Eshba, Lakoba and Akirtava) was formed. An Organisation Bureau of the RCP(B) was set up in Abkhazia.

16 March 1921

The Federal Republic of Russia and Turkey signed a Treaty in Moscow.

28-31 March 1921

The Batumi Conference, directed by the Caucasian Bureau of the Central Committee of the RCP(B) (Ordjonikidze), discussed the question of 'the framework of Soviet power' in Abkhazia, paving the way for the proclamation of the Abkhazian SSR.

31 March 1921

The Abkhazian SSR is officially proclaimed.

Summer-Autumn 1921

The changed policy of the Central Committee of the RCP(B) shows an orientation towards the 'autonomization' of Abkhazia within the Georgian SSR.

16 December 1921

Soviet Georgia and Soviet Abkhazia signed 'a special Union Treaty', actually unifying the territory of the Republics.

February 1922

The 1st Congress of the Soviets of Abkhazia endorses the unification of Abkhazia with the Georgian SSR.

12 March 1922

The Transcaucasian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic (TSFSR) is formed, unifying the three Transcaucasian republics into a single Federation: the Azerbaijanian, the Armenian and the Georgian SSR (Abkhazia is included in TSFSR as a part of the Georgian SSR).

30 December 1922

The USSR is formed - a 'Union' agreement providing for the union of the RSFSR, the Ukrainian and the Byelorussian SSR and the Transcaucasian Federation.

1925

The newly adopted Constitution of the Georgian SSR stipulates the entry of the Abkhazian SSR into the Georgian SSR under the treaty signed on 16 December 1921. Simultaneously the Constitution of the Abkhazian SSR is adopted.

April 1930

The 3rd Session of the Central Executive Committee adopts a resolution on the transformation of the 'treaty-based' Abkhazian SSR into an autonomous republic within the Georgian SSR.

11 February 1931

The 6th Congress of the Soviets of the Georgian SSR and the Abkhazian SSR adopts a resolution on the transformation of the 'treaty-based' Abkhazian SSR within the Georgian SSR into the Abkhazian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Georgian SSR.

15-26 February 1931

A protest rally lasting for many days (a national assembly of the Abkhazian people) is held in the village of Duripsh against the resolution adopted by the 6th Congress of the Soviets, expressing non-confidence in the leadership of Abkhazia.

4 March 1936

Celebration of the 15th anniversary of Soviet Abkhazia. On its eve the Abkhazian SSR is awarded the Order of Lenin by a Decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR (1935).

25 November-5 December 1936

The 8th All-Union Extraordinary Congress of Soviets adopted a new Constitution of the USSR, following Joseph Stalin's report. According to this Constitution the TSFSR ceased to exist, the Georgian SSR directly joined the USSR as a 'Union' republic. The status of the Abkhazian ASSR within the Georgian SSR was endorsed.

28 December 1936

The Chairman of CEC of the Abkhazian SSR, Nestor Lakoba, died unexpectedly, during his sojourn in Tbilisi (he was presumably poisoned at supper at Lavrenti Beria's place).

31 December 1936

Lakoba's funeral in Sukhumi, attended by a huge crowd.

1937-1938

A wave of ruthless political reprisals in Abkhazia. Lakoba was posthumously declared an enemy of the people, all his relations and comrades-in-arms suffered arrests, tortures and liquidation. Alexei Agrba, Beria's protege, took over the post of Chairman of the CEC of Abkhazia (arrested on 18 September 1937 and shot on 21 April 1938). An open trial of fifteen 'Lakoba followers' took place in Sukhumi in autumn 1937. However, the reprisals continued even after the trial. According to incomplete data, 2186 people were affected, of which 748 were shot. The collectivization of the agriculture of Abkhazia, hampered earlier, was implemented compulsorily within a year.

22 June 1941-9 May 1945

The Great Patriotic War, in which the Abkhazian people, along with the other peoples of the USSR, took an active part both at the fronts and in the rear, sacrificing thousands of lives to the total victory over fascism.

August-September 1941

The remnants of Abkhazia's intellectuals were subjected to another wave of reprisals in 1937-1938. An action on the mass deportationexpatriation of Abkhazians from their historical homeland was being prepared (though not implemented).

May 1942

Expulsion of Greeks - foreign subjects - from the Black Sea Coast to the eastern regions of the USSR.

14-15 November 1944

Forcible deportation from Georgia to Central Asia and other eastern parts of the USSR of the Turks from Meskheti (over 115,000 people/ as well as Kurds, Khemshils (Armenians of Muslim religion), and some Azerbaijanis).

13 March 1945

The Abkhazian Regional Committee (and following it - on 13 June the Central Committee(CC) of the CP of Georgia) adopts a resolution 'on the measures for the improvement of the quality of educational work at schools in the Abkhazian SSR', actually doing away with the Abkhazian national school, reducing to nil the teaching of Abkhazian, which provocatively set Abkhazian and Georgian cultures against each other.

June 1949

Deportation of the Pontic Greeks - citizens of the USSR - from Abkhazia and Ajaria to Kazakhstan and Kirghizia. The places of their residence were settled by Georgians.

5 March 1953

The death of Stalin.

14-25 February 1956

The 20th Congress of the CPSU exposed 'the cult of the personality' of Stalin and the criminal reprisals of his regime", qualified as a 'violation of socialist legality'. Work started towards the political rehabilitation of the former Party and Soviet leadership of Abkhazia (the followers of Lakoba).

1957

The first appeals of the Abkhazian intelligentsia to the central bodies of power for the solution to the question of the transfer of the Abkhazian ASSR to the jurisdiction of the RSFSR (with no consequences).

1967

The second appeal of the Abkhazian public to the CC of the CPSU and other departments, with the proposal on the secession of Abkhazia from the Georgian SSR.

1978

In connection with the adoption of a new constitution of the USSR, the question of the transfer of Abkhazia to the RSFSR and granting it the right of 'free secession from the Georgian SSR' is raised again.

April 1985

The April Plenum of the CC of the CPSU - the beginning of the new political course of perestroika, headed by Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev.

20 February 1988

The Regional Soviet of the Autonomous Region of Nagorny-Karabakh (ARNK), summarising the results of the Referendum on the Status of Nagorny-Karabakh, appealed to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Azerbaijanian and the Armenian SSR with the request to sanction the secession of Nagorny-Karabakh from Azerbaijan and its incorporation into Armenia.

17 June 1988

The 'Abkhazian letter' was sent to the Presidium of the coming 19th All-Union Conference of the CPSU. Its authors (writer Alexei Gogua and other representatives of the Abkhazian intelligentsia) raised the issue of altering the status of Abkhazia and its transformation from an 'autonomous' republic within Georgia into a 'Union' one.

18 June 1988

In the section 'on the development of national relations' in Gorbachev's report to the 19th All-Union Party Conference, he formulated the task of careful consideration of national interests and renunciation of Stalin's chauvinistic policy.

A national movement of the Ossetians in the South-Ossetian Autonomous Region, Adamon Nykhas, (People's Conversation) was launched, initially putting forward economic demands (an epidemic of typhoid in the region spurred the movement).

The People's Forum of Abkhazia (Aidgylara, (Unity), is formed - originally as a national movement of the Abkhazian people).

12 July 1988

The session of the Regional Soviet of the Autonomous Region of Nagorny-Karabakh adopts a resolution on the secession of the Autonomous Region from Azerbaijan and its incorporation into Armenia.

18 July 1988

The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR adopts a Decree on the preservation of the previous status for the Autonomous Region of Nagorny-Karabakh within the Azerbaijani SSR and the allocation of additional funds for the social-economic development of the autonomous region.

August-September 1988

The 'Stone War' on the roads of the Autonomous Region of Nagorny-Karabakh. The beginning of a blockade.

November 1988

Pogroms of the Armenian population in Baku; rampage of violence. On 24-25 November introduction of troops and.declaration of a state of emergency in Baku and Yerevan.

A Committee on Special Rule of the Autonomous Region of Nagorny-Karabakh is set up.

18 March 1989

A 30-thousand-strong sanctioned rally (general assembly) of the Abkhazian people, called by the People's Forum Aidgylara in the village of Lykhny, Gudautafdistrict (with the approval and participation of the local party and soviet authorities), addressed Gorbachev with demands to grant Abkhazia the status of a Union republic and to introduce temporarily the regime of 'Special Rule' from the Centre (after the example of the Nagorny-Karabakh Autonomous Region).

20 March-8 April 1989

Mass rallies of protest against the decisions of the Lykhny Assembly swept all Georgia. From the cities and villages of Abkhazia (Sukhumi, Gali, Gagra, Leselidze) rallies spread to other regions of Georgia, reaching ultimate tension in early April at a continuous rally lasting for many days in Tbilisi. Unlike the Lykhny Assembly, the rally in defence of the integrity of Georgia was disapproved of by the local authorities, being considered unsanctioned. Also, unlike the Lykhny Assembly, the protest rally adopted not an address to the CC of the CPSU, or the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, or personally to Mikhail Gorbachev, but resolutions and declarations, expressing anti-communist and anti-Soviet sentiments of the masses, demanding the secession of Georgia from the USSR.

9 April 1989

Tragic events in Tbilisi, use of armed force against the peaceful population (operations of troops under the command of General Rodionov). As a result of the punitive military action with the use of sapper spades and poison gases/ 21 people died, over 4,000 were wounded, among them 3,000 with symptoms of poisoning. A curfew was introduced in Tbilisi. The former first Secretary of the CC of the CP of Georgia, J.I. Patiashvili, resigned.

10-13 May 1989

Mass assemblies and meetings of the Georgian population are held in the villages of Kochara, Tsagera and in other districts of Abkhazia;the Sukhumi section of the railway is paralysed. An 'open letter to the Georgians of North-Western Georgia' is being circulated at the meetings (the letter was compiled under the editorship of Zviad Gamsakhurdia). It questioned the validity of the existence of the Abkhazian autonomy.

14 May 1989

The Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR issued an order on the creation of a branch of Tbilisi State University in Sukhumi.

25 May 1989

The first Congress of the People's Deputies of the USSR. At the suggestion of the deputy, V.F. Tolpezhnikov, the Congress paid its respects to the victims of the Bloody Sunday in Tbilisi with a minute's silence.

30 May 1989

At the session of the Congress of the People's Deputies of the USSR, the deputy, Th.V. Gamkrelidze, raised the question of condemning the annexation of the Independent Georgian Democratic Republic in February 1921 as a result of a gross violation of the Treaty between Russia and Georgia of 7 May 1920. At the evening session the same day, the Congress discussed the events in Tbilisi.

Colonel-General Rodionov, justifying his actions, called the actions of 'the extremist groups' of Georgia hostile, describing the rally in Tbilisi as an 'anti-Soviet Sabbath lasting for many days'. The Congress set up a commission of deputies for the investigation and assessment of the events in Tbilisi.

7 June 1989

Organised mass pogroms of Meskhetian Turks in Fergana valley,Uzbekistan.

25 June 1989

Escalation of inter-ethnic relations and clashes between Georgians and Azerbaijanis in Eastern Georgia, holding rallies under slogans demanding the setting up of a Borchalo Azerbaijani Autonomy in Georgia and expulsion of Georgians (Svans, settled here earlier from the disaster areas).

25 June 1989

The first founding Congress of the Popular Front of Georgia in Tbilisi adopts an appeal to the Georgian and the Abkhazian peoples, calling upon them to consolidate and avoid violence.

8 July 1989,

The People's Forum of Abkhazia, Aidgylara, makes public its appeal to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the immediate introduction of a special form of rule in Abkhazia, with direct subordination to the Centre.

14 July 1989

At night, unidentified persons destroyed the stand in the centre of Sukhumi with the photos of the victims of 9 April in Tbilisi.

15-18 July 1989

Inter-ethnic clashes in Sukhumi and in other districts of Abkhazia, incited by the boeviks of the Abkhazian People's Forum Aidgylara. As a result, 17 persons (11 Georgians, 3 Abkhazians, 1 Greek) died, and 448 were wounded. On 18 July 'a special regime of the conduct of citizens' was introduced in Sukhumi.

August 1989

Start of tension in the districts with predominantly Armenian population in the South of Georgia. Armenian rallies in Akhalkalaki and Bogdanovka demanding the setting up of an Armenian Autonomy.

25-26 August 1989

The first Congress of the Peoples of the Caucasus was held in Sukhumi, with the participation of the representatives of unofficial public organisations (of national movements) of the Abkhazians, the Abazins, the Adyghe, the Ingush, the Kabardians, the Circassians and the Chechens. The decision to set up an Assembly of the Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus was adopted. The Assembly aimed at the re-establishment of the Caucasian Mountain State with Sukhumi as the capital. The Congress adopted 'an appeal to the Abkhazian and the Georgian peoples', expressing regret at the bloody July events in Abkhazia.

14 September 1989

The People's Forum made an attempt to organise a strike at the vital enterprises of the Republic. It was accompanied by a hunger strike by 20 persons, protesting against the suppression of the national rights of the Abkhazian people in Georgia.

21 September 1989

A general meeting of the Kabardian National movement Adygha Khase in Nalchik appealed to the Supreme Departments of the USSR and the Georgian SSR, demanding the status of 'special rule' for Abkhazia, similar to that in Nagomy-Karabakh.

4 November 1989

The 3rd session of the Assembly of the Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus in Nalchik demanded that the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Georgian SSR take immediate measures for the protection of the constitutional rights of the Abkhazian people.

10 November 1989

The Regional Soviet of the South-Ossetian Autonomous Region adopted a decision on the transformation of the South-Ossetian Autonomous Region into an Autonomous Republic within the Georgian SSR. The Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR annulled the decision. Many thousands of representatives of unofficial public organisations left for Tskhinvali to hold a rally in support of the Georgian population of the Autonomous Region.

23 November 1989

Another 50-thousand-strong Georgian march was stopped by the armed Ossetian population. Clashes and hostilities lasted from November 1989 till January 1990.

November 1989

The 2nd Congress of the People's Deputies of the USSR endorsed the findings of the commission of deputies on the investigation of the Tbilisi events' (the Commission was chaired by Anatoly Sobchak). It condemned the use of force against the peaceful population. The Resolution of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR of 18 November 1989 was the first step on the road to Georgia's obtaining independence and her secession from the USSR.

11 March 1990

Proclamation of independence by the Supreme Soviet of Lithuania, the beginning of the collapse of the USSR. By the decision of 8 March and 20 June the Supreme Soviet of Georgia recognised the illegal annexation of Georgia by the Russian Army in February 1921 and restored the 1921 Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Georgia.

31 May 1990

A 30-thousand-strong rally of the representatives of the Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus in Sukhumi demanded the secession of Abkhazia from Georgia.

August 1990

An attempt of the Vaadat movement of Meskhetian Turks to organise a march from Russia to Meskheti and Javakheti through the territory of Abkhazia.

25 August 1990

The Supreme Soviet of the Abkhazian SSR adopted a Declaration on the state sovereignty of the Abkhazian Soviet Socialist Republic and a resolution on the legal guarantees of the defence of the statehoo of  Abkhazia.

26 August 1990

The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR adopted a Resolution, declaring the acts adopted by the Supreme Soviet of Abkhazia on 25 August null and void and noted that they violated the territorial integrity of Georgia and contravened her Constitution.

October 1990

The victory of the bloc of left-wing parties Round Table-Free Georgia at the election to the Supreme Council of Georgia marked the beginning of the movement towards the independence of Georgia and her legal secession from the USSR. Zviad Gamsakhurdia was elected President of the Republic of Georgia.

4 December 1990

The resumed 10th session of the Supreme Soviet of the AbkhazianASSR elected Vladislav Ardzinba Chairman of the Supreme Soviet.

17 March 1991

At the All-Union Referendum, the majority of the Abkhazian population voted in favour of a Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the basis of a renewed Treaty.

19-21 May 1991

The 1st World Circassian Congress in Nalchik with the participation  of an Abkhazian delegation.

9 July 1991

A new electoral law is adopted in Abkhazia. The elections to the Supreme Soviet, held on its basis, ensured the Abkhazian minority population (17%) 28 seats in the parliament (with 65 members).

19-21 August 1991

A reactionary coup attempt in the USSR. Power is taken over by a State Committee for the Emergency Situation (GKChP). A powerful popular resistance toppled the GKChP, leading to the August revolution in Russia.

6 September 1991

Chechnia, led by president Dzhokhar Dudayev, declares its independence.

1-3 November 1991

The 3rd Congress of the Assembly of the Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus in Sukhumi.

1 December 1991

The elections to the Supreme Soviet of Abkhazia are summed up (the first round of the elections was held in October); the separatist leadership of the Supreme Soviet (Ardzinba and his supporters) was enabled to rely on a parliamentary majority.

1 December 1991

The Referendum on the Independence of the Ukraine delivered the last stroke to the USSR.

8 December 1991

The USSR ceased to exist as a result of the agreements concluded in Belovezhskaya Pushcha by the leaders of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Byelorussia, and the USSR. The foundation was laid for the CIS, soon joined by Kazakhstan, the republics of Central Asia and some others. Georgia refused to join the CIS.

22 December 1991-6 January 1992

The Tbilisi Revolution. Former president Zviad Gamsakhurdia fled from Tbilisi (first to America, then to Chechnia, where he was granted political asylum). A military council took over in Georgia.Soon it was transformed into the State Council of Georgia. The new leadership was headed by Kitovani, loseliani, Sigua (the latter was first acting prime minister, later, the prime minister of the republic).

January-March 1992

The first military campaign of the troops of the State Council to Western Georgia (Mingrelia), where the armed supporters of the ex-president (Zviadists) offered resistance to the new authorities. On 18 March an agreement was signed between the State Council of Georgia and the 'resistance campaign' in Zugdidi, under which the Zviadist formationsn were to merge into the National Guard and the Tbilisi units of the National Guard were to withdraw from the conflict area.

February 1992

In South-Ossetia a Referendum was held on joining Russia. In response to separatism, units of the National Guard besieged Tskhinvali;the armed conflict escalated.

21 February 1992

The State Council of Georgia abolished the existing Constitution of the Georgian SSR and restored the Constitution of 1921.

March 1992

Eduard Shevardnadze returned to Georgia to head the State Council of the Republic. The elections of the Supreme Council of Georgia were fixed for October 1992.

21 April 1992

The State Council of Georgia and the Regional Soviet of Krasnodar Region of the Russian Federation adopted a conceptual plan for the repatriation of the Meskhetian Turks to their homeland.

24 June 1992

An abortive coup attempt in Tbilisi, seizure of the TV station. The rebels were arrested. On the same day, in Sukhumi, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Abkhazia, Givi Lominadze, became the target of a bandit attack.

24 June 1992

The Dagomys summit meeting of the leaders of Russia (Boris Yeltsin) and Georgia (Eduard Shevardnadze) marked the beginning of the settlement of the South-Ossetian conflict and an end to bloodshed.

June 1992

An attempt by Zviadists to assassinate loseliani. Chairman of the Council of Defence of Georgia. Several people were killed.

End of June 1992

Zviadists stepped up their activities in Mingrelia. An attempt by the Committee of National Disobedience to organise a general strike in Zugdidi. A military campaign of detachments of Mkhedrioni to Western Georgia in order to stabilise the situation.

9 July 1992

Hostages were taken by Zviadists in Chkhorotsqu district (Megrelia), including Alexandr Kavsadze, Vice-Premier, of Georgia.

23 July 1992

With a simple majority of votes (36 out of 65) the Supreme Soviet of Abkhazia adopted a Resolution on the abrogation of the Constitution of the Abkhazian ASSR of 1978 and restoration of the 1925 Constitution. It underlined the tendency towards secession from Georgia and preservation of the Soviet Socialist system in Abkhazia.

25 July 1992

The State Council of the Republic of Georgia adopted a Resolution,declaring the given act null and void.

4 August 1992

A National holiday in Georgia in connection with her joining the UN (July 31). Manifesto on the Great Reconciliation was made public in Tbilisi. All the participants of the putsch of 24 June were granted amnesties, as well as all the supporters of Zviad Gamsakhurdia, arrested after the Tbilisi Revolution.

11 August 1992

Capture of hostages (11 responsible officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia) in Zugdidi and their transfer to Abkhazia. The Vice-Premier, Alexandr Kavsadze, captured earlier, was also taken there. Telephone conversation between Shevardnadze and Ardzinba in which the Chairman of the State Council informed the leadership of Abkhazia on the necessity of conducting a military operation to free the hostages on the territory of Abkhazia. An agreement was reached on co-operation.

14 August 1992