Abkhaz National Guard (1991–1992) Prior to the establishment of the formal armed forces, the Abkhaz National Guard (
Abkhazian: Аҧсны Аҳәынҭқарра Амилаҭтә гвардиа) served as the primary Abkhaz paramilitary formation. It was established in early 1992 under the authority of the Abkhazian
Supreme Soviet, led by
Vladislav Ardzinba. Created during a period of escalating ethnic tension within the
Republic of Georgia, the Guard was modeled after the
Soviet Army's 8th Regiment but functioned primarily as a volunteer militia. Its formation served as a direct response to the growing influence of Georgian paramilitary groups, specifically the
Mkhedrioni and the
National Guard of Georgia. The Guard played a pivotal role in the events leading to the outbreak of conflict. In June 1992, the unit stormed the Abkhazian Ministry of Internal Affairs in
Sukhumi, forcibly removing the ethnic Georgian Minister Givi Lominadze and replacing him with
Alexander Ankvab. When Georgian government forces entered Abkhazia on 14 August 1992—officially to secure the regional railway—they were engaged by the Guard at a checkpoint in Okhurei, marking the start of full-scale hostilities.
1992–1993 War and formalization Following the initial
Georgian offensive, the National Guard retreated to the separatist stronghold of
Gudauta. From this base, the Guard reorganized with the assistance of the
Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus and other foreign volunteer detachments. On 11 October 1992, following the recapture of
Gagra, Vladislav Ardzinba issued a decree officially transforming the National Guard into the foundation of the modern Abkhazian Armed Forces. This transition marked the formalization of the separatist military structure, integrating the original Guard units with various local self-defense groups to sustain the war effort against Georgian forces. The
Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Abkhazian armed forces were officially created on 12 October 1992, after the outbreak of the
1992–1993 war with Georgia. The basis of the armed forces was formed by the ethnic Abkhaz National Guard created earlier in 1992 prior to the outbreak of the war. It also takes its roots from the Separate Regiment of
Internal Troops, which was disbanded in 1991. During the war, the Abkhazian forces – with the critical support from the
Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus,
Cossack volunteers and
Russian regular military units stationed in or near Abkhazia – succeeded in defeating the Georgian troops;
Georgians,
Armenians,
Greeks,
Russians and
Abkhaz were killed. Roughly 200,000 to 250,000 Georgian civilians became
Internally displaced persons (IDPs). Most of the military's weapons come from the
Russian airborne division base in
Gudauta, while others were captured from Georgian forces. Georgia regards the Abkhaz armed forces as "unlawful military formations" and accuses Russia of supplying and training the Abkhaz troops, partly in exchange for Abkhaz land or hotels. The Abkhaz deny this, saying they bought what they have on the free market except for five sea cutters received from Russia and speedboats from the Abkhaz diaspora in
Greece. In March 2005, then Abkhazian defence minister
Sultan Sosnaliev said that the senior and middle-ranking officers in the Abkhaz army are regularly sent to Russia for 2–3 month training courses within the framework of the Russia's "Vystrel" (Shot) program. Sosnaliev himself is a Russian officer from the
Kabardino-Balkaria Republic (Russian Federation) and held the same post during the Abkhazian war, when
Chechen field commander and militant
Shamil Basayev was his deputy. Similarly, former chief of staff,
Major General Anatoly Zaitsev had previously served as deputy commander of the
Transbaikal Military District (now part of the
Siberian Military District) in Russia. Another top official, Deputy Defence Minister Aleksandr Pavlushko is a Russian colonel and the former chief of staff of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia. Georgia also regularly accuses Abkhazia of forcibly recruiting Georgian returnees from the
Gali district into the armed forces. He was succeeded as Defence Minister (but not as Vice Premier) by First Deputy Defence Minister
Mirab Kishmaria, in an acting fashion from 10 May and permanently from 26 July onwards. On 14 April 2010, five Deputy Ministers of Defence were retired, including Chief of the Armed Forces
Anatoli Zaitsev.
Aslan Ankvab was appointed acting First Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of Staff. On 21 May 2010, Beslan Tsvishba was also appointed First Deputy Minister of Defence. On 29 March 2011,
Vladimir Vasilchenko succeeded Aslan Ankvab to become the new, permanent, Chief of Staff and First Deputy Minister of Defence. On 24 November 2014, the governments of Abkhazia and Russia signed a treaty of cooperation that creates a joint force of troops from the two countries. In September 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a proposal to finance the modernization of the Abkhazian Armed Forces. On 18 May 2015, retired Russian army general
Anatoly Khrulyov was appointed Chief of the General Staff by President
Raul Khajimba. ==Organisation==