Flag of Abkhazia

Abkhazia is ruled by the partially recognised de facto independent Republic of Abkhazia, even though the de jure majority internationally recognized Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia claims to be its legitimate government.

Republic of Abkhazia
Republic of Abkhazia
Proportion1:2
Adopted23 July 1992
DesignSeven horizontal stripes alternating green and white; in the canton, a white open hand below a semicircle of seven five-pointed stars on a red field.
Variant flag of Republic of Abkhazia
UsePresidential standard
DesignThe national flag but with the national emblem superimposed in the center.
Variant flag of Republic of Abkhazia
UseNaval ensign
DesignA white flag with a blue stripe on the bottom. The canton contains a white hand with seven stars in a semicircle above the hand.

The flag of the Republic of Abkhazia was created in 1991 by V. Gamgia.[1] It was officially adopted on 23 July 1992.[2] The design of the red canton is based on the banner of the medieval Kingdom of Abkhazia. The open right hand means "Hello to friends! Stop to Enemies!".[3] The seven stars in the canton have since been reinterpreted to correspond to the seven historical regions of the country - Sadzen, Bzyp, Gumaa, Abzhywa, Samurzaqan, Dal-Tsabal and Pskhuy-Aibga.[4]

Seven is a number sacred to the Abkhaz and the green and white stripes represent the tolerance that allows Christianity and Islam to cohabit.[5]

  • Woman wearing dress modelled after the Abkhazian flag
  • Children waving miniature Abkhazian flags
  • Helicopter towing the Abkhazian flag
  • Parade exhibiting Abkhazian flags

Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia

As no official flag has been adopted for use by the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, the flag of Georgia is used by the Government of Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. A flag has been proposed by the Georgian State Council of Heraldry for the region that combines the flag of Georgia with the green and white stripes found on the flag of the breakaway state.[6]

  • Flag of Georgia
  • Proposed flag of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia

Historical flags

Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia

The flag of the SSR Abkhazia was adopted in 1925 when the SSR Abkhazia ratified its constitution. It was used until 1931, when the SSR Abkhazia was transformed into the Abkhaz ASSR with a different flag.

Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic

The flag of the Abkhaz ASSR was introduced in 1978 and used until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The previous flag used between 1931 and 1978 was identical to the flag of the Georgian SSR, and in 1978 the name of the Abkhaz ASSR was added written in the Abkhaz language and script.

  • Flag of the Socialist Soviet Republic Abkhazia (1925–31)
  • Flag of the Abkhaz ASSR introduced in 1978

Flag on stamps
  • Flag of the SSR of Abkhazia on an Abkhazian stamp. The flag on the stamp does not match with the description on the constitution.
  • Flag the Republic of Abkhazia on an Abkhazian stamp.

See also

References
  1. Аргун Ю.Г. (Argun Yu. G.), О Государственном флаге Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine (On the state flag) (XLVIII итоговая научная сессия (11-13 мая). тезисы докладов. - Сухум: АбИГИ, 2004, с. 3-4)
  2. "Abkhazia (Georgia)". FOTW Flags Of The World. 2009-08-15. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  3. "Ahakuytra". www.ahakuytra.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  4. Государственные символы Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Abkhazia Flag from the Flags of the World Database". www.flagsinformation.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  6. "Heraldica - Main". heraldry.ge. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
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