Abkhazia has operated beyond Tbilisi s authority since the 1992–93 conflict. In recent years, Abkhazian leaders have made alternating demands. Though they have insisted on full independence, they have alternatively requested associate membership in the Russian Federation. The Russian government has been slow to respond to the latter proposal, fearing the negative effect of such an action on its relations with Georgia, whose government is intent upon integrating Abkhazia into Georgia.
On the topic of Georgian-Abkhaz relations, OSI's Central Eurasia Project hosted a panel discussion featuring the following speakers:
- Paata Zakareishvili, Writer/Commentator on the Georgian/Abkhaz conflict;
- David Darchiashvili, Director of the Open Society–Georgian Foundation;
- Leonid Lakerbaya, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia;
- Liana Kvarchelia, Deputy Director of the Center for Humanitarian Programs, Abkhazia;
- Rachel Clogg, Co-Director of the Caucasus Programme at Conciliation Resources, London.