Abkhazia is a breakaway region on Georgia's Black Sea coast, bordering Russia to the north. It declared independence from Georgia in the early 1990s following a brutal civil war, and has been under Russian protection since. Georgia and most of the international community consider it Georgian territory under Russian occupation; Russia and a handful of other states recognise it as independent.
The region is not accessible to tourists through normal channels. Entering from the Georgian side is prohibited by the Abkhaz authorities. Entering from Russia is considered by Georgia an illegal crossing into Georgian territory and can result in criminal charges. Until the political situation changes, Abkhazia is effectively off limits.
In Soviet times it was known as a resort destination — subtropical, green, and on the Black Sea — but that era is long past.