Abkhazia
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Abkhazia is a de facto independent territory in the north-western corner of Georgia, bounded south-east by Georgia proper, north by Russia and south by the Black Sea. Absorbed into the Russian Empire in the past, upon the creation of the Soviet Union, Abkhaz leaders applied for permission to emigrate en masse to Turkey, but were refused. During the Soviet period, Abkhazia was about 18% of Georgia by population, but a much larger proportion of the ruling classes in Georgia were Abkhaz, which led to a Georgian resentment of Abkhazia. Upon the break-up of the Soviet Union, Abkhazia declared independence. Russia has supported Abkhazia in this, as a bulwark against having a strong Georgia on its southern borders. It is believed that Abkhazians can apply for, and are granted, Russian passports, so that they can travel and be citizens of the world community!
The religious situation in Abkhazia is complex, with Sunni Islám, Orthodox Christianity and the tradition Abkhaz Native Religion all active.
