Human rights in Abkhazia

Human rights in Abkhazia are granted by Chapter II of its Constitution which makes reference to adherence of Abkhazia to UDHR, ICCPR and ICESCR (Article 11). However, Abkhazia is not a UN member state and is not a party of UN human rights treaties, unlike Georgia, whose sovereignty over Abkhazia is recognized by a bigger part of the international community.

Abkhazia is classified as partly free by Freedom House. In its 2024 report, the organization highlighted ongoing issues including a flawed criminal justice system, systemic discrimination against ethnic Georgians, and extensive official corruption. Independent assessments have noted that while de facto legislation generally incorporates international standards, implementation is often hampered by corruption, political interference, and a lack of professionalism in law enforcement. The United States Department of State characterizes Abkhazia as a Russian-occupied region where de facto authorities are supported by Russian forces, noting significant human rights issues including unlawful detentions and restrictions on property rights for ethnic Georgians.

Legal scholars often analyze the human rights situation through the lens of "remedial secession"—the theory that a group has a right to independence if it is subjected to "gross and systematic" violations by a parent state. Supporters point to the 1990s conflict as a period of extreme persecution, while critics argue that the threshold for remedial secession was not legally met, noting that ethnic Abkhaz held significant political representation in the Georgian legislature prior to the 1992 secession.

In the 1990s, ethnic cleansing of Georgians took place in Abkhazia; many ethnic Georgians remain displaced persons to this day.