SUMMARY

Since the end of the war between the Pebublic of Abkhazia and the Government of Georgia in 1993 and the return of IDPs (internally displaced persons) to Gali region in Abkhazia in 1995, the White Legion had been involved in low-intensity guerrilla warfare and occasional small-scale military operations against Abkhaz forces along the ceasefire line, a region that had originally been home to a majority ethnic Georgian population.

In their struggle, the group mainly relied on bomb attacks against Abkhaz infrastructure and mine attacks against key roads. In addition, the groups targeted Abkhaz forces and checkpoints in bomb, rocket and sniping attacks. Also polling stations during local elections have been targeted. Occasionally, attacks resulted in armed confrontations with Abkhaz forces. Kidnapping of Abkhaz security forces was also a common tactic. Moreover, several incidents involved the CIS Peacekeeping force when checkpoints were targeted by White Legion forces or Russian peacekeepers supported Abkhaz forces in their fight against Georgian groups. To finance their activities and armaments, the Georgian groups depended on smuggling and criminal activities as well as the support from Georgian inhabitants in and around Gali. Responses from Abkhaz forces have been heavy-handed and indiscriminately targeted ethnic Georgians in the area. Both sides’ activities have been facilitated by the large number of small arms and light weapons in the area, including Kalashnikov rifles, grenade launchers and machine guns.

The non-state conflict between the Republic of Abkhaz and the White Legion is first included in UCDP data in 1997. In December 1997, the clashes had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.