Abkhazia is a legally autonomous administrative region located in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains and a virtually independent republic. However, it has not yet received international recognition as an independent state. The region is located on the east coast of the Black Sea, within the borders of Georgia ; In the north it forms a border with Russia. Its capital is Sukhumi. Abkhazia was part of the Soviet Union as an autonomous Soviet republic within Georgia. It gained independence as part of Georgia in August 1991. But the Muslim minorities of Abkhazia (17.6% of the total population) and the Russians (14.3%) were not in favor of the settlement. With the help of Muslim volunteers from the neighboring autonomous republic of Chechnya, the Georgian opposition in Abkhazia was able to resist the Georgian army. They took full control of Abkhazia and were able to forcibly evict the majority Georgian population (45%) living in Abkhazia. By 1994, the Georgian population in Abkhazia was small. Georgia concedes defeat and talks begin on giving Abkhazia full autonomy. Abkhazia is currently undergoing a dual regime. 63% of the area is ruled by the separatist Abkhaz government with Russian help ; Their headquarters is located at Sukhumi. Northern Abkhazia is governed by a provincial government representing the Georgian government in about 16% of the territory ; They are headquartered in the Kodori Valley. Georgia and Russia are currently at loggerheads over the region's future.