Georgian PM marks 33rd anniversary of Sokhumi fall, pays tribute to fallen heroes

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Sunday described September 27 as an extremely tragic day commemorating the victims of the war in Abkhazia and the fall of Sokhumi, saying that restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity through peaceful means remains a duty to those who lost their lives.

Kobakhidze made the remarks at a memorial dedicated to the heroes who died for Georgia’s unity, where he paid tribute to the fallen and laid a wreath marking the anniversary of the fall of Sokhumi.

“September 27 is an extremely tragic day that reminds us of the horrors of the war in Abkhazia. On this day, we remember the heroes who died in Abkhazia and pay tribute to their heroism and memory. This day reminds us that we have a duty to these heroes”, he said.

“It is our duty to do everything possible to restore territorial integrity through peaceful means. This was their dream. Our heroes sacrificed their lives for this very dream, and it is our duty to do everything possible to restore territorial integrity through peaceful means and fulfil their dream”, Kobakhidze concluded.

September 27 marks 33 years since the fall of Sokhumi, the decisive event of the 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia. The main phase of the conflict lasted 13 months and 13 days, ending with the fall of Sokhumi on September 27, 1993.

The war resulted in Georgia losing control over Abkhazia, while the region subsequently functioned as a de facto separate entity. The conflict remains unresolved, with the international community recognising Abkhazia as part of Georgia.

The conflict caused thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 200,000 people. Estimates of the death toll vary depending on the source and methodology, while UN reporting recorded approximately 250,000 displacements during the conflict.

The fighting forced hundreds of thousands of people, the overwhelming majority of them ethnic Georgians, to flee their homes. The conflict left deep humanitarian and political scars, while the status of Abkhazia and the issue of displaced persons remain unresolved to this day.