Georgian-Abkhaz conflict : a case in Moscow's nationality policy

Abstract

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Transcaucasian region is inevitably doomed to long-term instability and conflict. Newly established states of the region from the ashes of the Soviet Union have been the scene of more or less constant ethnic conflicts that had their origins in the past. Throughout history, Transcaucasia has suffered much from these ethnic movements and has also been a major intersection of overlapping Ottoman, Persian and Russian interests. The Transcaucausian states, Georgia in particular, have witnessed such ethnic movements in their territories which threatened their territorial integrity for years. Although these movements have been the domestic problem of the region, in the last centuries, Russia, as the only sovereign authority over these territories, considered them as a threat to its security and interests in the region, and was directly involved in these disputes. The primary objective of this study is to examine the Georgian-Abkhaz ethnic conflict in Georgia which has been a serious nationality issue for Russia during the course of history. Policies mutually adopted by the Tbilisi and Sukhumi administrations for the Abkhaz ethnic movement, and Moscow's response to the crisis regarding its traditional nationality policy and power struggle over the region will be the core subject of this research.