The Republic of Abkhazia (Apsny) is located in the north-western Caucasus, between Russia, Georgia, and the Black Sea.
Land
Abkhazia has a total area of 8,600 square kilometres, and is located on the slopes of Greater Caucasus Mountains and in the Kolhida Lowlands. Fifty-five percent of Abkhazia's land area is forested. Natural landmarks include the Novoafonskaya (Anakopia) cave and Lake Ritsa. The climate can be described as humid but temperate.
The capital city of Sukhumi is home to 43,700 people. Abkhazia is divided into seven districts: Gagra, Gal, Gudauta, Gulripsh, Ochamchira, Sukhumii and Tkvarcheli. Abhaz Independence Day is celebrated on September 30.
Population
According to the 2003 census, Abkhazia has a population of 214,000, with . over 50% living in rural areas. Abkhazia is home to many different ethnicities, including Abkhazians, Armenians, Georgians, Russians, Mingrelians, Ukrainians and Turks, who make up 44.1%, 21%, 19%, 11%, 1.7%, 0.8%, 0.3% of the population, respectively. The national language is Abkhaz, but Russian and Abkhaz are both officially used in government and business. Most of the religious population belong to the Sukhumi-Abkhaz Eparchy, which is nominally subordinate to the Georgian Orthodox Church, although other faiths are not prohibited. Abkhazia is also home to a Sunni Muslim community, which includes several hundreds of people.
Natural resources
The Abkhaz Republic's timber resources include oak, beech, hornbeam, chestnut and many others. Abkazia is also rich in broken stone ideal for construction aggregate (chip stone), sources of potable, mineral and thermal water, and fruit, nectariferous and medicinal plants. Energy resources include coal and water resources. The area is also ideal for subtropical farming, the resort industry and tourism.
Political system
According to the 1994 constitution, Abkhazia is an independent, democratic constitutional republic. The President, who is vested with wide-ranging powers, is elected for a five-year term. Sergei Bagapsh has held the office of President since February of 2005. The National Assembly is the republic's supreme legislative body and consists of 35 deputies elected for a five-year term by a majority vote. The most recent elections were held in March 2007. The Speaker of Parliament is Nugzar Ashuba, who has been in office since March 2002. The Cabinet is led by the Prime Minister, currently Alexander Ankvab, who has been in this office since February 2005.
The parliament is dominated by a pro-Presidential majority. Sergei Bagaph is supported by the country's most influential political organizations, including the United Abkhazia party led by Artur Mikvabia, the political organizations Aytayra (led by Leonid Lakerbaya and Oleg Damenia) and Amtsakhara (led by Vladimir Nachach-Ogly and Merab Kishmaria), and the Independent Trade Union Federation led by Azaret Ayba. The People's Unity Forum of Abkhazia, which was established in October 2005 and is co-chaired by Avtandil Ghartskia, Daur Arshba and Vitaly Gabnia, with Astamur Tania as the Executive Secretary, represents three opposition parties: the People's Party of Abkhazia led by Yakub Lakoba, the Social-Democratic Party led by Gennady Alamia and Sergei Shamba, and the Apsny Republican Party led by Nugzar Agrba, as well as the nine political organizations that supported Raoul Khadzhimba in the latest presidential elections. Such organizations include Akhyatsa, led by Beslan Dzhopua, and Aidgylara led by Valery Kvarchia.
The next presidential elections are expected to be held between December 2009 and January 2010, although the exact date has not been yet scheduled.
Economy
Since 2005, Abkhazia's economic policy has seen a certain progress in overcoming the country's social and economic crisis. Local industry, transportation, communications and municipal services are all being re-established. The republic's economy is largely based on the health resort industry and tourism
Abkhazia is an agricultural and industrial country. Abkhazian agriculture centres around citrus fruits, corn, hazelnut, tea, tobacco, winegrowing and animal husbandry. Abkhazia's most important industries include the food production and energy industries. Coal mining and logging are also important industries. Most enterprises are state-owned, the largest being Abkhazkhleb, Abkhazles and Abkhazalko.
Abkhazia's major trade partners are Russia and Turkey.
Despite the current financial crisis, the republic's economy has shown positive tendencies overall. In 2008, construction volumes' growth was 1.4 billion roubles, which is an almost a threefold increase as compared to 2007. Also, several construction projects of social value were restored from 2008 to 2009, including Sukhumi's Russian secondary school No. 2, the Abkhaz State Philharmonic Hall, and a music school in Tkvarcheli. Three preschool institutions in Sukhumi and Ochamchira, Sukhumi's maternity hospital, and a major highway from Psou River to Sukhumi all underwent major renovations.
Abkhazia's foreign trade turnover increased by a total of 2.4 billion roubles, or 51%, from 2007 to 2008, up to 7.1 billion roubles. During the first six months of 2009, the turnover amounted to 3.4 billion roubles, or 52.7 million roubles more than the corresponding period of last year.
The Abkhazian government's budget has grown considerably, and the government expects to collect up to 2 billion roubles from internal revenues by 2010. The government is thus able to pay more attention to the region's social services, and in 2008 allocated three times as much money for social services and welfare as compared to 2004. This year, the government plans to increase that amount by 30%. Since January 1 of 2009, wages for employees at state-financed organizations has increased by 40%, while pensions for certain categories of pensioners will increase by 50 to 100%. In 2008, the Abkhazian government began paying benefits to veterans of the Chernobyl cleanup, heroes of labour, and other beneficiaries.
The republic's health resort and tourism industry is on the rise, and the region has significant potential for further expansion in that area. The number of tourists and vacationers visiting Abkhazia increased by 7% as compared to 2008 and, as of July, 2009, an estimated 300,000 people have visited Abkhazia. The number of tourists arriving for one-day tours has also seen considerable growth, with up to 50 buses of tourist arriving from the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi crossing the Psou River that divides Russia and Abkhazia every day.
Foreign Policy
Abkazia's stated foreign policy priorities include assuring the
country's independence and security, resolving the issue of the
repatriation of ethnic Abkhazians, and developing strategic relations
with Russia.
The relationship between Abkhazia and Russian Federation's constituent
entities is continuing to develop, especially between Abkhazia and the
Russian federal entities of Moscow, the Krasnodar Territory, Adygea,
Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachayevo-Cirkassia, and North Ossetia. Sukhumi
has official representatives in several Russian cities. Abkhazia has
signed cooperation agreements with several Russian regions.
Cooperation on cultural matters is improving.
Russia is the Abkhazia's leading trade and economic partner. Russia
exports include fuel, food products, and means of transportation.
Russia mainly imports citrus fruit, raw timber, and ferrous scrap
metals from Abkhazia.
Education
The Abkhaz education system includes 171 comprehensive schools, of
which 63 are Abkhaz, 51 Russian, 39 Armenian, 17 mixed Russian-Abkhaz,
and 1 Russian-Armenian. Abkhaz schools educate a total of 25.8 thousand
school children. There are also 15 specialised secondary educational
establishments, which accommodate a total of 2.2 thousand students.
This includes Basharan College, which operates under the patronage of
the Abkhaz community in Turkey. Abkhazia is also home to two
universities, which together accommodate at total of 3.3 thousand
students. There are three professional theatres, including the Russian
Dramatic Theatre in Sukhumi, four museums, and 21 libraries. The Abkhaz
Academy of Sciences brings together six scientific and academic
research institutes, including the Botanical Scientific Research
Institute, which was established by the Russian General Nikolai
Rayevsky in 1840.
Media
Important Abkhazian newspapers include the official newspaper "Respublika Abkhazia", the moderate opposition newspaper "Chegemskaya Pravda", "Echo Abkhazii", "Nuzhnaya", and the newspaper "Forum", which is supported by united opposition groups.
The Abkhaz State Television and Radio Company broadcasts daily programmes in Abkhaz and Russian.