Selected Records on the Ethnic Conflict in Georgia - War in Abkhazia, 1991 - 92

The materials in FOIA 2009-0294-F are responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Other related materials can be found in FOIA 2009-0292-F. FOIA 2009-0294-F contains materials regarding the ethnic conflict that occurred in the former Soviet republic of Georgia in 1991 - 92. The origins of this conflict date to 1931 when the U.S.S.R. incorporated 2 2009-0294-F Abkhazia into the unified socialist republic of Georgia. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Abhkaz nationalists, who long believed that their culture was systemically being erased, rebelled against the Georgian authorities in an armed bid for independence. Both sides leveled charges of ethnic cleansing during the conflict. The Republic of Abkhazia declared its independence on July 23, 1992; however, its status internationally still remains disputed. The Bush Presidential materials contain an assortment of documents including correspondence to the President from private citizens and the President of Georgia; memoranda discussing upcoming meetings with the Georgian Foreign Minister, George Khoshtaria and Secretary of State James Baker's visit to London, Lisbon, and Tblisi in May 1992; and documents concerning the nomination of Kent N. Brown as U.S. Ambassador to Georgia. Some of the material responsive to this FOIA is contained in the files of the National Security Council (NSC) and while listed below, are security classified and have been closed under the restrictions of the Freedom of Information Act. Read less