Presidential elections were held in the Republic of Abkhazia on 15 February 2025[1] following the 2024 Abkhazian protests.[2] The protests resulted in the resignation of Aslan Bzhania as president of Abkhazia.[3][4]

As no candidate received a majority of the vote in the first round, a second round was held on 1 March.[5] Acting president Badra Gunba was elected,[6] receiving 56% of the vote.

Background

The election was called after president Aslan Bzhania resigned in November 2024 due to protests against an agreement allowing wealthy Russians to purchase property in Abkhazia. He was replaced on an acting basis by his vice president, Badra Gunba. On 28 November 2024, the People's Assembly of Abkhazia announced that new presidential elections would be held on 15 February 2025, with the winner to be inaugurated within the next 30 days of the results being declared. Assembly speaker Lasha Ashuba has estimated that the election would cost up to 25 million rubles ($227,300).[1]

Researcher Olesya Vartanyan stated on 13 February that high-ranking Russians, notably Sergey Kiriyenko, are interfering with the election's conduct to help Badra Gunba, the candidate who is the most favorable to the Kremlin.[7] Adgur Ardzinba was accused of being a "Turkish agent" which was compared to the 2004 Abkhazian presidential election, when Sergei Bagapsh was presented as pro-Georgian despite turning out to be loyal to the Kremlin.[8] The claim was rejected by the opposition.[9]

Electoral system

A candidate needs to win a majority of votes in the first round to avoid a runoff, which must be held within two weeks.[10] In the second round, a “none of the above” option is included in the ballot. A candidate must receive more votes than both their opponent and the combined “none of the above” votes in order to win.[11]

Candidates

Campaign

Following the first round, Ardzinba said that numerous unknown armed and uniformed people had surrounded the headquarters of the Central Election Commission of Abkhazia (CEC) in Sukhumi.[16]

On 23 February, the CEC said that Gunba had violated electoral campaign laws by attending a meeting between Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko and the Abkhazian acting Health Minister Eduard Butba.[16]

A televised debate was held between Gunba and Ardzinba on 27 February.[16]

During the runoff on 1 March, masked attackers stormed a polling station and threatened election officials in northwestern Abkhazia. The Investigative Committee of Russia said it was investigating "attacks on Russian citizens" during the election.[17]

Results

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Badra GunbaBeslan BigvavaIndependent45,81747.7654,95455.66
Adgur ArdzinbaAlkhas DjindjalAbkhaz People's Movement36,47638.0341,70842.25
Robert ArshbaDaut AgrbaIndependent7,4347.75
Oleg BartsitsAdgur KakobaIndependent3,9884.16
Adgur KhurkhumalTengiz KuteliaIndependent8960.93
Against all1,3131.372,0652.09
Total95,924100.0098,727100.00
Valid votes95,92497.2898,72798.32
Invalid/blank votes2,6842.721,6871.68
Total votes98,608100.00100,414100.00
Registered voters/turnout143,96068.50143,65169.90
Source: Abkhaz World (first round), Caucasian Knot (first round), Interfax (second round)

Reactions

  •  Georgia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia denounced the "so-called presidential elections in Russian-occupied Abkhazia".[5]
  •  European Union: A spokeperson for the European External Action Service said that the European Union does not recognize the constitutional and legal framework in which the "so-called presidential elections" took place.[5]
  •  Russia: President Vladimir Putin congratuled Gunba on winning the election, saying the Abkhazian people had expressed their "free popular will".[17]
  •  South Ossetia: President Alan Gagloev congratulated Gunba on his "convincing victory" in the election. Gagloev stated that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are "fraternal states united by common historical trials and values", and expressed hope for the development of allied relations between the two countries.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "Abkhazia Sets February Presidential Election After Mass Protests". The Moscow Times. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Actions of Abkhazian opposition harm the republic, lawmaker says". TASS. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Presidential election in Abkhazia to be held within legal period — president". TASS. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Leader of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia resigns after protest deal". France 24. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Kremlin-Favored Candidate Faces Runoff in Georgia's Abkhazia". Radio Liberty. 17 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Breakaway Abkhazia's acting leader wins presidential election, state media says". Reuters. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Moscow Has Run Out of Patience in Abkhazia". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Ahead of Abkhazia's election, Russian media paint opposition candidate as 'Turkish agent'". JAMnews. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Абхазская оппозиция просит Путина утихомирить российские СМИ". Nash Abkhazeti (in Russian). 21 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Their Leader Ousted By Mass Protests, Abkhazians Vote to Decide Ties With Russia". The Moscow Times. 15 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  11. ^ "Abkhazia presidential election: Two finalists advance, no winner yet". JAM News. 17 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d "Abkhazia completes registration of presidential candidates". JAM News. 8 January 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  13. ^ "Партия «Амцахара» поддерживает кандидатуру Бадры Гунба на предстоящих президентских выборах". Apsnypress (in Russian). 17 January 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  14. ^ "Сторонники Ардзинбы потребовали от Гунбы объяснений". Caucasian Knot (in Russian). 20 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  15. ^ "Abkhazia's Upcoming Presidential Elections: Interview with Kan Taniya". Special Eurasia. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  16. ^ a b c "Russian officials pledge support for Abkhazia in apparent attempt to sway presidential vote". OC Media. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Pro-Russian Candidate Declared Winner in Abkhazia's Presidential Race". The Moscow Times. 2 March 2025.
  18. ^ "The President of South Ossetia congratulated Gunba on his victory in the elections in Abkhazia". Pravda Abkhazia. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Abkhazian_presidential_election
No tags for this post.