Under Georgian occupation Abkhaz people rose up to the armed battle for national liberation.  This movement was supported by the Red Army invasion and the establishment of the Soviet power in the Caucasian states. Naturally, in the light of this, Moscow’s interests matched those of Abkhaz national-liberation movement.  Soviet Rule was established in Abkhazia March 4th 1921. Independent Soviet Social Republic of Abkhazia was established March 31st 1921.  On 21st May 1921 the Revolutionary Committee of SSR Georgia acknowledged the independence of SSR Abkhazia and accepted a special Declaration.  The history of Abkhazia during Soviet time can be named “a history of a gift”, which was given to Georgia by Stalin.   

The independent state of Abkhazia was short-lived. Russia once again betrayed Abkhaz peoples. The Totally independent State of Abkhazia existed only from 31-03-1921 to 17-02-1922.  It was neither a part of Soviet Russia nor a part of Soviet Georgia. Under the initiative of Georgian Chauvinistic nationals there began a propaganda campaign aimed to promote Georgian values & to push Abkhazia to join Georgia.   Abkhaz people proposed a plan, which suggested that Abkhazia would enter the Caucases Federation (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan) as a 4th republic, avoiding an absorption by Georgia.  It was unsuccessful. Soon, under Stalin’s directive (responsible for ethnic policies among Bolsheviks under Lenin) steps were taken to dissolve independent Abkhaz state.  

On December 16th 1921 Georgia and Abkhazia (being subjects to International law), signed a Treaty of Alliance, under which Abkhazia joined Georgian republic on the Federal conditions, and through that entered the Caucuses Federation.   Being formally still a sovereign state SSR Abkhazia participated in a formation of the USSR.  In December 1922 Abkhaz representatives signed the Treaty establishing the USSR. On 19 February 1931 SSR Abkhazia was transformed into autonomous republic and became a part of Georgia.  Consequently Abkhaz territory was occupied by Georgia from 1936-1953. During that time there was a forceful movement of peasants from Western Georgia into Abkhazia in order to dilute Abkhaz’s population with Georgians. During WW2 (1941-1942) this forceful migration got worse. The population of Georgian nationality between 1939-1959 increased by 70 thousand, whilst native Abkhaz population increased only by 5 thousand[2].  From 1988 there was a third wave to enforce Georgian occupation.  In 1990 there was a flood of migrants into Abkhazia from all corners of Georgia (In 1886 the population of Abkhaz people constituted 85.7% of all Abkhazia population, while Mengrels only 6%. In 1989, the population of Abkhaz people constituted only 17.8% while Georgians were 45.5%.  During Soviet time Stalin ordered to consider Mengrels as Georgians. So, Soviet statistics was giving only combined numbers for Georgians and Mengrels together, being named Georgians). The purpose of this planned demographic aggression was to create the total numerical superiority of Georgians in Abkhazia by forceful immigration of Georgians and outflow of Russians, Greeks, Armenians and other peoples, living in the Republic.    Using this demographic shift, Georgia proposed a thesis which refused Abkhazia its self-determination. However, Abkhaz people never gave up on the idea of independence and numerous riots and demonstration have taken place in 1931, 1957, 1965, 1967, 1978, & 1989. We need to note the importance of the national movement in 1978, connected with an acceptance of the Brezhnev Constitution of USSR. National riots and strikes took place practically in all major Abkhaz cities. They demanded inclusion in the text their Constitutional point about the right of freedom of separation of Abkhaz ASSR[3] from Georgian SSR.  

Mass demonstration reached culmination in 1989 when the inter-ethnical fighting began. The demand for Abkhaz sovereignty, state and political independence was formulated. This demand was voiced on the 18th of March 1989 at the meeting in Likhnah  where over 30 thousand people voiced their demand for the revision of Abkhaz status and to replace it with the one, similar to 1921-1931.   In 1987-1988 in Georgia, illegal societies were formed: “Ilya Chavchavadze Society”, “Ilya Pravednij Society”, “Helsinki Society”, “Georgian National Independence Society”, “National-Christian Society” etc. These groups consisted of nearly 3000 people. All of them, until April 9th 1989 were not registered properly and therefore illegal. Their organisers were Gamsakhurdia, Kostava, Tseretelli, Chanturia and few others[4].    

During 4th-9th April 1989 were Z. K. Gamsakhurdia, M. I. Kostava, I. S. Tseretelli, G. O. Chanturia organised antigovernment demonstrations and planned an attack on Abkhaz and then on Osetian people. In future they planned to call off ethnical autonomy of the Southern Osetia and Abkhazia and an exit of Georgia from USSR.  Due to a request of Georgian authorities riot police troops arrived in Tbilisi to upkeep social peace on streets.  Gamsakhurdia, Kostava and Tseretelli postponed the invasion of their supporters into Sokhumi[5].  Placards of Gamsakhurdia supporters on the streets of Tbilisi read: “ …While we are under Soviet rule we will not be able to abolish autonomies of Abkhazia, Adzharia, South Osetia…”, “…Abkhaz people must leave Georgian Territory immediately and let there be an abolition of Abkhaz Autonomous republic, Let them also abolish autonomous regions of South Osetia and Adzharia…”  

On the 9th of April in Tbilisi on Shota Rustavelli avenue, the opposition demonstration led by Gamsakhurdia and his supporters was dispersed.  Several people died and tens were wounded. Due to this, in Georgia nationalistic feelings rose high, being led by Gamsakhurdia.  In brought certain results of parliament elections in Georgia on 28th October 1990.  182 Deputies of the Supreme Soviet (parliament) of Georgia were elected from totally 250 and on 14th November Gamsakhurdia was elected as the chairman of the Supreme Soviet.   

On March 17th 1991 the referendum on preservation of USSR took place. On Abkhaz territory such referendum took place, unlike its Georgian neighbours. On the Abkhaz ASSR territory, from 318 thousand people who had the right to vote, more than 166 thousand (52.3% of population) voted. For the preservation of USSR voted 164 231 people (98.6%).    When Georgia’s referendum on the question of restoration of state independence (Abkhazia didn’t participate in it) took place on 31st march 1991, there existed a law which regulated the separation procedures of any Union Republic from the USSR. According to this law, autonomous republics had their right to decide independently on the question of their lawful status[6].    On 26th of May 1991 Gamsakhurdia was elected as Georgian President. During his public appearances and speeches he often mentions that “Georgia is for Georgians”.   

On the 19-21st August 1991 in Moscow a coup against Gorbachev took place, while Gorbachev intended to organise a signing of the new Union Treaty for USSR in Yeltsin version.  Due to the defeat of the coup, Gorbachev returns to power but has lost his support in government circles. The power was placed into Yeltsin’s hands, who in Belovezhie on the 8th of December, together with Ukrainian president Kravchuk, and the Leader of the Belarus Parliament Shushkeivich signed a Agreement, which led to the Collapse of the Soviet Union. The formation of lose so-called Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)[7] was formed instead.