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Chkhalta | |
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 The House of the Government of Abkhazian Autonomous Republic, Azhara, Upper Abkhazia | |
  Chkhalta Location of Chkhalta in Abkhazia Show map of Georgia Chkhalta Chkhalta (Abkhazia) Show map of Abkhazia | |
| Coordinates:43°05′48″N41°40′24″E / 43.09667°N 41.67333°E /43.09667; 41.67333 | |
| Country |  Georgia |
| Partially recognized independent country |  Abkhazia[1] |
| District | Gulripshi |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (MSK) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+4 |
Chkhalta (Georgian:ჩხალთა;Abkhaz:Чҳалҭа;Russian:Чхалта) is a village in the upper part of theKodori Valley, situated inGulripshi District,Abkhazia, a breakaway republic fromGeorgia.
Chkhalta is considered to be "Tsakhar" of the Byzantine sources by a considerable number of scholars. Here, in 556, the battle took place between theByzantine army and rebelliousMisimians, a local proto-Georgian tribe. The Missimians revolted during theLazic War against theByzantine rule and sided with theSasanian Empire, but the Sasanians could offer no help as they were defeated by the Byzantine army atPhasis (Poti). Misimian rebels fortified themselves in the fortress of Tsakhar, but they were defeated by the Byzantine army. The Misimians continued to fight, but ultimately the revolt was suppressed.[2]
Prior to August 2008, Chkhalta was part of 'Upper Abkhazia', and once housed the headquarters of a now defunct armed formationMonadire. It was the only part of the region controlled by the Georgian government after the1992–1993 War in Abkhazia. During theAugust 2008 Russo-Georgian war, Abkhaz separatists gained control of Chkhalta and the rest of Upper Abkhazia.[3] Most of Chkalta's inhabitants fled the advancing troops and have yet to return.
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