Abkhazia is a partially recognized state that uses numbers from Russia’s phone system. It is currently recognized by many countries as region of Georgia.
The Russian phone network (country code +7) includes Kazakhstan (phone numbers starting with ‘6’ and ‘7’) and the partially recognized regions of Abkhazia (phone numbers starting with ‘840’) and South Ossetia (phone numbers starting with ‘9974’).
Calling to Abkhazia
- Do not include a leading ‘8’ is in the international call sequence – it is used in Abkhazia and the Russian phone network for domestic long distance calls and domestic calls to a mobile phone.
- A leading '+' in the phone number means 'dial your country's exit code'.
- Abkhazia’s phone numbers occupy area codes ‘840’ and ‘940’ within the Russian phone network.
- Calling from a mobile phone: dial from on the country where you're currently located.
- Calling from a VoIP or satellite phone: dial from on the country where the phone is registered.
Abkhazia’s country code may be mislabeled:
- Country code 007 (exit code of ’00’ used in many European, Asian, and African nations followed by Abkhazia’s (and the Russian phone network’s) country code of ‘7’).
- Country code 0117 (exit code of ‘011’ used in the United States and Canada followed by Abkhazia’s (and the Russian phone network’s) country code of ‘7’).
When calling to a mis-labeled country code, remove the exit code from the call sequence and replace it with the exit code of the country that dials the call.
… to a mobile (cellular) phone or text (sms)
Use the same call sequence.
Mobile phone numbers begin with ‘940’ in the Russian phone network.
When calling a mobile phone user, dial to the country where the mobile phone is registered, regardless of where the person is currently roaming.
… to a VoIP phone
Use the same call sequence.
When calling a VoIP phone user, dial to the country where the VoIP phone is registered, regardless of where the person is currently roaming.
… to a satellite phone
Abkhazia does not have a country-specific satellite phone system.
Most satellite phones operate on their country code – calls to these satellite phones follow their call sequence.
… sending a fax
Use the same call sequence.
Calling within Abkhazia (domestic dialing)
‘8 – wait for the dial tone’ is used as a trunk prefix when calling to a different area code in Abkhazia.
Local calling (within the same area code)
Dial only the local seven-digit phone number when calling within the same area code. Do not dial the trunk prefix ‘8 – wait for the dial tone’ or the area code.
| seven digits |
| local phone number |
Mobile calling (to a mobile phone)
To call to a mobile phone, include the trunk prefix ‘8 – wait for the tone’ and the area code.
| 8 - wait for the tone | 940 | seven digits |
| trunk prefix | area code | local phone number |
Abkhazian phone numbers explained
Number details
Russian / Abkhazian phone numbers are ten digits.
The first three digits are an area code. Abkhazia is ‘840’ within the Russian numbering system.
Mobile numbers are area code ‘940’ within the Russian numbering system.
An example of an Abkhazian phone number
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia lists its phone number in Sukhumi as+7 (840) 226-70-69.
Number explanation
| 7 | 840 | 226 70 69 |
| country code for Russia / Abkhazia | geographic (area) code for Abkhazia | local phone number in Sukhumi |
Local example – calling from another location in Sukhumi
Only the local phone number is dialed when calling within the same area code. Do not include the trunk prefix ‘8 – wait for the tone’ or the area code.
| 226 70 69 |
| local phone number in Sukhumi |
Long distance example – calling from Gagri, Abkhazia (on the other side of the country)
As all of Abkhazia is within the same area code, only the local seven digit phone number is dialed. Do not includ the trunk prefix ‘8 – wait for the tone’ or the area code.
| 226 70 69 |
| local phone number in Sukhumi |
Russian phone network example – calling from Russia, Kazakhstan, or South Ossetia
Calls from regions in the Russian phone network are dialed as domestic Russian phone calls. Dial the trunk prefix ‘8 – wait for the tone’, followed by the area code and local phone number.
| 8 | 840 | 226 70 69 |
| trunk prefix | area code for Abkhazia | local phone number in Sukhumi |
International example – calling from outside Abkhazia or the Russian phone network
To call from outside Abkhazia and the Russian phone network, dial the exit code of the country the call is dialed from, followed by Abkhazia’s (and Russia’s) country code of ‘7’, followed by the local phone number.
Do not include a leading ‘8’ in the call when calling from outside Abkhazia and the Russian phone network.
| exit code | 7 | 840 | 226 70 69 |
| exit code of the country the call is dialed from | Russian / Abkhazian country code | geographic (area) code for Abkhazia | local phone number in Sukhumi |
Calling from Abkhazia
‘8 – wait for the dial tone – 10’ is used as an exit code when dialing an international call from Abkhazia.
Sources and more resources
- Ministry of Telecommunication and Mass Communication of the Russian Federation – Russia’s national telecommunications regulator.
- ITU (International Telecommunications Union) – United Nations specialized agency for information and communications technologies.
- International Telecommunications Union – DIALLING PROCEDURES (INTERNATIONAL PREFIX, NATIONAL (TRUNK) PREFIX AND NATIONAL (SIGNIFICANT) NUMBER) (IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITU-T RECOMMENDATION E.164 (11/2010)) – A collection of dialing procedures for all countries and regions of the world. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- International Telecommunications Union – Russia (country code +7) Communication of 20.VII.2016 national numbering plan on file with ITU – details of Russia’s telephone numbering plan as submitted to the ITU. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- Wikipedia – Telephone Numbers in Abkhazia – Wikipedia entry for telephone number data for Abkhazia. Includes specific number ranges for each city as well as detail on calling procedures.
- Wikipedia – Telephone Numbers in Russia – Wikipedia entry for telephone number data for Russia. Includes specific number ranges for each city as well as detail on calling procedures.
- BT – the Phonebook – Russia International Codes – Summary of phone codes for Russia from the BT phone book.