Today, September 27, Georgia marks one of the most tragic dates in its modern history—the Day of the Fall of Sokhumi. In remembrance of those killed in the war, national flags have been lowered to half-mast on all administrative buildings throughout Georgia.
The armed conflict in Abkhazia erupted on August 14, 1992. Lasting 13 months and 13 days, it ended on September 27, 1993, with the fall of Sokhumi. This was preceded by the Abkhaz side’s breach of the Sochi Ceasefire Agreement.
The battle for the capital of the autonomous republic lasted 11 days. Early in the morning of September 27, Abkhaz-Russian, North Caucasian, and Cossack detachments stormed the Council of Ministers building of Abkhazia, taking prisoner the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Abkhazia Zhiuli Shartava, the Mayor of Sokhumi Guram Gabeskiria, and 27 ministerial staff members, all of whom were subsequently executed. On September 30, 1993, Russian-Abkhaz forces took up positions along the Enguri River. The de facto government of the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia marks September 30 annually as the “Day of Victory over Georgia and Independence Day of Abkhazia.”