Abkhazia

Abkhazia
Country	Independent (de facto) Georgia (de jure)
Adopted	July 23, 1992
Designed by	Valeriy Valikovich Gamgia
Proportions	1:2

The flag of Abkhazia consists of seven horizontal stripes alternating green (top and bottom) and white, with a red canton with an arch of seven stars above a red, open hand.

Pro-Georgian government in exile of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia uses the flag of Georgia.

Symbolism

The design of the red canton is based on the banner of the mediaeval Abkhazian Kingdom.

The green stripes stand for Islam, the white stripes stand for Christianity, and their combination symbolises tolerance that allows the two religions cohabit in the region.

Official interpretation of the colours is as follows: the green represents life, and the white represents bright future.

The seven stars stand for the seven historical regions of Abkhazia: Sadzen (Dzhigetia), Bzyp, Gomaa, Abzhwa, Samurzaq'an, Dal-Ts'abal, Pshoy-Aybga.

The flag is based on the one of the North Caucasian Federation.

Other flags of Abkhazia and Abkhazians

President's flag

Flag of the armed forces

Flag of the Navy fleet

Flag of the Abkhaz diaspora in Turkey

History

Abkhazia was formed as a Soviet socialist republic in 1921. In 1931 it became an autonomous Soviet socialist republic within Georgia. In 1925-1951 the flag of Abkhazia was a red banner with the name of the republic in golden lettering in Abkhazian, Russian, and Georgian languages.

In 1951, when Georgian SSR adopted a new flag, its flag became flown in Abkhazia without any modifications.

In 1978 the republic adopted a flag: the flag of Soviet Georgia with golden lettering "АҦСНЫ АССР" (AP’SNI ASSR, "Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic") or "АҦ.АССР" (AP’.ASSR) below the blue square.

In 1989 the congress of Abkhaz people adopted a flag without Georgian symbolism, and decided to drop the word "autonomous" from the official name of the republic. It was not recognised by the authorities of Georgia.

On August 25, 1990 the Supreme Council of the republic passed the Declaration of Sovereignty, thus proclaiming its independence from Georgia, which was not recognised by Georgia itself.

The current flag designed by Valeriy Gamgia won a flag contest in 1991 and was adopted by the Supreme Council of the Republic on July 23, 1993.

SSR of Abkhazia, 1925 – 1927

Abkhaz SSR (since 1931 — ASSR), since March 1927

Abkhaz ASSR, January 7, 1935 – 1937

Abkhaz ASSR, August 2, 1937 – 1951

Flag of the Georgian SSR was flown in 1951-1978

Abkhaz ASSR, November 3, 1978 – 1991

Variant of the previous flag

Abkhaz SSR, 1989 – 1993

Republic of Abkhazia, since July 23, 1993

Nickname

• Abkhazian Stars and Stripes

References

Unrecognized Countries
Abkhazia Kosovo Northern Cyprus Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Somaliland South Ossetia Taiwan Transnistria