Chkhalta

Chkhalta (Georgian: ჩხალთა; Abkhaz: Чҳалҭа; Russian: Чхалта) is the largest village in the upper part of the Kodori Valley, situated in Gulripshi District, Abkhazia,[1] a breakaway republic from Georgia.

History

Prior to August 2008, Chkhalta was part of 'Upper Abkhazia', the only part of Abkhazia controlled by the Georgian government. The village was home to the headquarters of Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, recognised by Georgia as the only legitimate government of Abkhazia. The village and the surrounding area were undergoing a major rehabilitation program. During the August 2008 war in South Ossetia, Abkhazian forces gained control of Chkhalta and the rest of Upper Abkhazia. Most of Chkalta's inhabitants fled the advancing troops and have yet to return.

References

  1. Abkhazia's status is disputed. It considers itself to be an independent state, but this is recognised by only a few other countries. The Georgian government and most of the world's other states consider Abkhazia de jure a part of Georgia's territory. In Georgia's official subdivision it is an autonomous republic, whose government sits in exile in Tbilisi.

See also

Coordinates: 43°05′48″N 41°40′24″E / 43.09667°N 41.67333°E