"The Russian, Armenian, Greek, Estonian, Ukrainian, Polish and German communities in Abkhazia declare that the Georgian administration's hopes to gain support for their expansionist plans are unfounded," says a statement from Abkhazia's ethnic communities circulated on Monday.

"The Georgian authorities, which are planning to 'peacefully' restore their jurisdiction over the territory of our republic, claim that certain forces, including representatives of certain ethnic communities in Abkhazia, allegedly support the intentions of this potential aggressor," the statement says.

"We, the various nationalities in Abkhazia, strongly support the constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia, which proclaims independent, sovereign and democratic development of our state," the statement says. "The multinational people of Abkhazia, who have had to struggle for freedom and economic and cultural development, will not allow anyone to encroach on their homeland, Apsny."