Abkhazia (/ æ b ˈ k ɑː z i ə / ab-KAH-zee-ə or / æ b ˈ k eɪ z i ə / ab-KAY-zee-ə), officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a de facto state in the South Caucasus, recognised by most countries as part of Georgia, which views the region as an autonomous republic. It lies on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, south of the Greater Caucasus mountains in northwestern Georgia.