Eshera (Georgian: ეშერა; Abkhaz: Ешыра; Russian: Эшера) is a village in the Sukhumi District in Abkhazia.[2] It is a climatic-balneotherapeutic resort on the Black Sea coast, at the right side of Gumista river. Its altitude above sea level is around 30 m, the distance to Sukhumi is 16 km. Once a part of the Abkhazian ASSR of the Georgian SSR, Eshera is controlled by the de facto independent Republic of Abkhazia since 1993.
In 1877, the village was home to 293 families (1,050 people in total), who fled to the Ottoman Empire after a failed rebellion against Russia.[3]
The Abkhaz Census of 2011 reported that Eshera had a population of 2,141. The ethnic makeup was 40.9% Abkhaz, 40.8% Armenians and 10.9% Russians. Other minorities included Georgians (1.9%), Ukrainians (1.2%) and Greeks (0.6%).[4]
The existence of Greek colonies are assumed in the vicinity of the Eshera. [5] In addition, many fragments of Greek pottery, date back to the 6th century BC, have been found in the village.[6]
^The political status of Abkhazia is disputed. Having unilaterally declared independence from Georgia in 1992, Abkhazia is formally recognised as an independent state by 5 UN member states (two other states previously recognised it but then withdrew their recognition), while the remainder of the international community recognizes it as de jure Georgian territory. Georgia continues to claim the area as its own territory, designating it as Russian-occupied territory.
^The political status of Abkhazia is disputed. Having unilaterally declared independence from Georgia in 1992, Abkhazia is formally recognised as an independent state by 5 UN member states (two other states previously recognised it but then withdrew their recognition), while the remainder of the international community recognizes it as de jure Georgian territory. Georgia continues to claim the area as its own territory, designating it as Russian-occupied territory.
