The Sukhumi massacre[2] took place on September 27, 1993, during and after the fall of Sukhumi into separatist hands in the course of the War in Abkhazia. It was perpetrated against Georgian civilians of Sukhumi, mainly by militia forces of Abkhaz separatists, their North Caucasian and Russian allies.[3] It became part of a violent ethnic cleansing campaign carried out by the separatists.