Georgia: Situation of ethnic Georgians from Abkhazia; treatment of Abkhazians in Georgia and state protection available to them (2001-March 2002)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 26 March 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GGA38759.E |
| Reference | 4 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Georgia: Situation of ethnic Georgians from Abkhazia; treatment of Abkhazians in Georgia and state protection available to them (2001-March 2002), 26 March 2002, GGA38759.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be3220.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to Darrell Slider, a professor with the Department of Government and International Affairs of the University of South Florida, more than 300,000 "refugees," who are mostly ethnic Georgians, fled Abkhazia and now live in other regions of Georgia (Financial Times 18 Oct. 2001).
In April 2002, a group of displaced ethnic Georgians from Abkhazia reportedly blocked the traffic on a highway in western Georgia after the local authorities broke their promise to pay them a monthly living allowance (HRW 2002).
For information on the situation of displaced Georgians from Abkhazia, please see the attached 30 June 2001 article by the Armenian International Magazine (AIM) and Profile of Internal Displacement: Georgia, a report published by the Global IDP Database of the Norwegian Refugee Council in November 2001 available at
In its Caucasus Report, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty makes reference to Boris Kakubava, the leader of an organization said to represent the displaced Georgians from Abkhazia, who serves as member of the Georgian parliament (29 Nov. 2001).
No information on the treatment of Abkhazians in Georgia nor on the state protection available to them could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Financial Times [London]. 18 October 2001. Darrell Slider. "Georgia-Abkhazia Conflict Needs an International Support Force." (NEXIS)
Human Rights Watch (HRW). 2002. Human Rights Watch World Report 2002: Georgia.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Caucasus Report. 29 November 2001. Volume 4, Number 39. "Who Was Behind the Gali Fighting in 1998?"
[Accessed 20 Mar. 2002]
Attachment
Armenian International Magazine (AIM). 30 June 2001. Matthew Karanian. "Georgia's Refugees: Running out of Alternatives." (Ethnic NewsWatch 2001/NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
Nationalities Papers
Internet sites including:
Abkhazia.org
Amnesty International
British Helsinki Human Rights Group
Caucasian Institute For Peace, Democracy, and Development [Tbilisi]
Central Asia and the Caucasus [Luleo]
Central Asia Caucasus Analyst [Washington, DC]
The Central Asia- Caucasus Institute [Washington, DC]
Country Information & Policy Unit (CIPU) of the UK Home Office Asylum and
Appeals Policy Directorate
Danish Association for Research on the Caucasus [Copenhagen]
Eurasianet.org
Freedom House
Human Rights Information and Documentation Center (HRIDC) [Tbilisi]
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
International Organization for Migration (IOM) [Geneva]
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) [Prague]
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
US Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.
US Committee for Refugees [Washington, DC]
World News Connection (WNC)
