34 years since Abkhazia armed conflict began, Georgian officials honour those killed

Thirty-four years have passed since the armed conflict in the currently Russian-controlled Abkhazia began on 14 August 1992, with Georgian officials marking the anniversary by paying tribute to those who died for Georgia's territorial integrity.

Giorgi Jincharadze, chairman of the government of Georgia's Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, laid a wreath at the Heroes' Memorial in Tbilisi together with members of the Abkhazia government.

Jincharadze described 14 August 1992 as one of the most tragic dates in Georgia's recent history and honoured the memory of military personnel and civilians who died in the conflict.

"Our duty is to do everything possible to achieve Georgia's de-occupation and restore its territorial integrity through peaceful means," Jincharadze said.

He said the Georgian government's "pragmatic and consistent peace policy" could eventually make possible the peaceful reunification of the country and coexistence with Abkhaz people in a united Georgia.

Georgia's Deputy Defence Minister Grigol Giorgadze, Major General Joni Tatunashvili, Deputy Chief of the Defence Forces and Chief of the General Staff, State Service of Veterans Affairs Director Koba Kobaladze, representatives of the Abkhaz Warriors' Union, members of the Abkhazia Supreme Council, war veterans and relatives of those killed also attended the ceremony.

The armed conflict in Abkhazia began on 14 August 1992, with the first clashes reported in the Ochamchire and Gulripshi districts.

The conflict lasted 13 months and 13 days and resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and military personnel.