January 1 – 1991–1992 Georgian coup d'état: The opposition forces capture the Broadcasting Tower of Tbilisi, allowing them to control televised messages.
January 2 – 1991–1992 Georgian coup d'état: In a televised address, the opposition leaders announce the establishment of a Military Council, an interim body that would serve as the new leadership of the country. The Military Council dissolves the Supreme Council, removes President Zviad Gamsakhurdia from office, appoints Tengiz Sigua as an acting prime minister and declares state of emergency and curfew in Tbilisi.[1]
January 3 – 1991–1992 Georgian coup d'état: Pro-Gamsakhurdia demonstration in Tbilisi is violently dispersed by the Mkhedrioni troops, killing four.
January 6 – 1991–1992 Georgian coup d'état: Zviad Gamsakhurdia leaves the Parliament through the road behind the building and flees to Armenia.
January 9 – In an interview to journalists in an Armenian town of Idzhevan, Zviad Gamsakhurdia says he is still rightful President of Georgia.[2]
January 16 – Georgian Civil War: President Gamsakhurdia returns to Georgia, arriving to his stronghold in western Georgia as the Military Council fails to consolidate its power there. Gamsakhurdia flies from Armenia to Chechnya and from there to Sokhumi airport captured by Gamsakhurdia's armed supporters earlier. He holds a rally in Zugdidi, where he tells his armed supporters to "do away with the junta". The Military council dispatches its troops to the western Georgia.[3][4][5]
January 18 – The new government passes the resolution "on reform of agricultural land", launching the mass privatization of land.
January 19 – Georgian Civil War: The forces of the Military Council attack the towns of Abasha and Poti in western Georgia (Mingrelia).
January 27 – Georgian Civil War: Six people die in a fighting between the Military Council and Gamsakhurdia loyalists around a bridge north of the town of Poti.[6]
January 28 – Georgian Civil War: The forces of the Military Council capture Poti and Zugdidi, with Sokhumi in Abkhazia remaining only stronghold of Gamsakhurdia's supporters. Seven die in a battle for Zugdidi.[7][8]
March 10 – The Military Council hands over power to the State Council with Shevardnadze as its chairman.[11]
March 12 – The disbanded Georgian Supreme Council holds a session in Grozny and forms the government in exile under President Zviad Gamsakhurdia, declares the Military Council as illegal and continues to uphold its status as Georgia's sole legitimate parliament.
March 13:
Zviad Gamsakhurdia issues a decree recognizing the independence of the Chechen republic of Ichkeria, his government becoming the first in the world to do so.[12][13]
Gamsakhurdia's supporters seize 2 military officers and 17 cadets loyal to Shevardnadze in Mingrelia.[14]
March 30 – Georgian Civil War: Pro-Gamsakhurdia fighters take control of whole Mingrelia.
June 24 – Georgian Civil War: Armed Gamsakhurdia supporters seize the state television center in Tbilisi. They are driven out within a few hours by the National Guard.[16]
June 24 – Georgian-Abkhazian conflict: The Abkhaz National Guard, under the direction of Vladislav Ardzinba, attacks the building of the Interior Ministry of Abkhazia and removes its Georgian Minister Givi Lominadze from office. The move is condemned by the Georgian Interior Minister Roman Gventsadze, whose approval is required according to the legislation for removing the Interior Minister of Abkhazia from office.
July 6 – Georgian Civil War: A reported group of 300 Gamsakhurdia's supporters besiege the Mkhedrioni militia in Tsalenjikha, but the Mkhedrioni counter-attacks and breaks the siege with the supporting units of Georgian National Guard and the Interior Ministry from Poti, Khobi and Kutaisi. 12 die in a battle.[17]
July 14 – A peacekeeping operation begins in South Ossetia, consisting of a Joint Control Commission and joint Russian – Georgian – Ossetian military patrols.[19]
July 20 – 40 die after a cargo plane crashes into a suburban area in Tbilisi.[20]
July 23 – Georgian-Abkhazian conflict: The breakaway Abkhazian faction of the Abkhaz Supreme Soviet restores the Soviet Abkhazian constitution of 1925, which recognizes Abkhazia as a sovereign (union) republic. Another faction announces its opposition to this move.[21]
July 25 – Georgian-Abkhazian conflict: Georgian State Council declares Abkhazian proclamation of sovereignty as illegal, Eduard Shevardnadze says that the decision of the breakaway faction contradicts the opinion of the majority of Abkhazian population.[21]
August 2 – Georgian Civil War: The State Council publishes a Manifesto of Reconciliation and amnesties all oppositionists imprisoned between January and June 1992 in an attempt to defuse tensions. However, Gamsakhurdia is not pardoned.[22]
August 11:
State Council adopts the State Program on the Privatization of State Enterprises.
Georgian Civil War: Pro-Gamsakhurdia partisans take hostage Interior Minister Roman Gventsadze and other Georgian officials in Zugdidi, Kavsadze also remains to be held captive.[23]
Georgian Civil War: In a televised address, Shevardnadze calls Gamsakhurdia's supporters "forces of evil".[24]
August 12 – Georgian Civil War: The Georgian National Guard and associated paramilitary forces enter Mingrelia to pursue a counter-insurgency;[25] Kidnapped Georgian officials, including Sandro Kavsadze, are taken to the eastern Abkhazia.
August 14 – Georgian-Abkhaz conflict: The Georgian National Guard detachments enter Abkhazia to free the hostages and protect the railroads. Abkhaz leader Vladislav Ardzinba calls the deployment an "occupation" violating Abkhazia's unilateral declaration of sovereignty, which was not recognized by Georgia and other countries.
August 14 – War in Abkhazia: The Abkhaz National Guard opens fire against the Georgian National Guard near Ochamchire. The War in Abkhazia begins.
August 22 – War in Abkhazia: Abkhazian-North Caucasian forces try to cross the Gumista River but are stopped by the Georgian National Guard.
August 23 – War in Abkhazia: Georgia announces partial mobilization.[28]
August 25 – War in Abkhazia: Abkhaz separatists launch an assault on Gagra with a force of 1500 men.[29]
August 26 – War in Abkhazia: Georgian officials report that 40 die in an overnight battle for Gagra, while 3 die while separatists attack railway station in Sukhumi. Russian President Boris Yeltsin urges North Caucasians not to take part in the Abkhazian war.[30]
War in Abkhazia: Fighting continues near Gagra, leaving one dead and two wounded on the Georgian side.[33]
War in Abkhazia: A ceasefire agreement is signed in Moscow on creation of a joint Russian, Georgian and Abkhazian commission to preserve peace and demilitarize the region. A significant Georgian force remains in Abkhazia to guard the railways and highroads.[33]
September 10:
Georgian Civil War: Last hostage held in Abkhazia, Zibert Khazaliya, is freed by the forces of Georgian State Council.[34]
War in Abkhazia: As the ceasefire agreement fails to hold on in Abkhazia, 2 Georgian soldiers and 30 Muslim rebels die in a clash.[34]
September 14 – A bridge connecting Armenia and Georgia is blown up by unidentified militants, severing rail link between the countries and potentially cutting off supplies from Russia to Armenia.[35]
September 19 – War in Abkhazia: Separatists ambush a bus outside the city of Gagra, killing 7 Georgian troops and wounding 14.[36]
September 25:
War in Abkhazia: The Supreme Soviet of Russia adopts a resolution which denounces Georgia's policy in Abkhazia. Russia suspends the delivery of weapons and equipment to Tbilisi, including those already promised. Georgia's leadership accuses Russia of interference in Georgia's internal affairs.[37][38]
Eduard Shevardnadze gives speech in the United Nations, warns that the Caucasus becomes "a new hotbed of international tension", urges more international involvement to solve the conflicts.[39]
September 27:
Russian troops exchange fire with the Georgian security forces outside Tbilisi after a Russian army truck fails to stop at a Georgian checkpoint. Two Russian troops die and one is seriously injured.[40]
October 1 – War in Abkhazia: The combined Abkhaz and North Caucasian forces commanded by Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev resume hostilities and launch a large-scale offensive in Gagra.
October 4 – Georgian State Council announces that Georgia will transer former Soviet weapons and equipment on its territory under its own jurisdiction, Russia warns it might lead to a war.[42]
October 6 – War in Abkhazia: Abkhazian-North Caucasian forces take whole Gagra Raion; Georgia accuses Russia of assisting the separatists.
October 7 – War in Abkhazia: A massacre of between 800 and 1,000 Georgian civilians is reported after separatists seize Gagra.[43]
November 2 – Georgian forces seize a Russian arms depot in southern Georgia, leading to a condemnation from Russian officials.
November 6 – Georgian Parliament confirms Shevardnadze as a head of state, passes the State Power Act which would serve as the basic law until the adoption of the 1995 Constitution of Georgia.
November 30 – War in Abkhazia: Abkhazian-North Caucasian forces capture Kochara.
December 25 – The Supreme Council of the Russian Federation recommends Russian president and government to impose sanctions on Georgia for failing to maintain security of Russian citizens and property of Russian Federation on its territory; Georgia accuses Russia of getting involved in the War in Abkhazia.
^Bennett, Andrew (1999). Condemned to repetition?: the rise, fall, and reprise of Soviet-Russian military interventionism, 1973-1996. MIT Press. p. 319. ISBN9780262522571.
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