President of Abkhazia

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President of the Republic of Abkhazia
Incumbent
Aslan Bzhania
since 23 April 2020
ResidenceSukhumi
Term length5 years
Renewable once
Formation26 November 1994
First holderVladislav Ardzinba
DeputyVice President of Abkhazia
Websitehttp://presidentofabkhazia.org/

The president of Abkhazia is the head of state in Abkhazia, a breakaway state recognized as part of Georgia, under Russian military occupation. The position was created in 1994. Before the office of president was created the head of state position was known as the chairman of Parliament between 1992 and the creation of the 1994 constitution. Before the position of Chairman of Parliament, the highest office in Abkhazia was the chairman of the Supreme Soviet. The post would last from the declaration of sovereignty from the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic on 25 August 1990 until the outright declaration of independence on 23 July 1992.

Oath of office[edit]

During Alexander Ankvab's presidency, Parliament decided to scrap from the Presidential oath the phrase:

Жәлар рылахь соуааит иҧшьоу абри ахақәкы сацәхьаҵны саныҟала
If I deviate from this path, then let me be punished by my people

During a meeting on 16 July 2014, following the Abkhazian Revolution, Parliament decided to restore this phrase. According to Vice Speaker Emma Gamisonia, the decision to remove the phrase had been taken because it was perceived as a curse, following the premature death of Abkhazia's first two presidents, Vladislav Ardzinba and Sergei Bagapsh. MP Daur Arshba claimed that the decision had been taken illegally, without the necessary quorum.[1]

On 18 August, the People's Assembly of Abkhazia additionally adopted a bill authored by Said Kharazia, and first proposed by him during the meeting on 16 July, adding the invocation[1][2]

Иа Анцәа Ду, суҳәоит Сыԥсадгьыли сыуаажәлари рымаҵ аураҿы амчи алшареи суҭарц!
Almighty God, give me strength to serve country and people!

Non-presidential heads of state[edit]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Position Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Valerian Kobakhia
(1929–1992)
Chairman of the Supreme Soviet 25 August 1990 24 December 1990 121 days Communist Party of Abkhazia
2 Vladislav Ardzinba
(1945–2010)
24 December 1990 23 July 1992 1 year, 212 days Communist Party of Abkhazia
(2) Chairman of Parliament 23 July 1992 26 November 1994 2 years, 126 days Independent

List of presidents of Abkhazia[edit]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Election Vice president(s)
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Vladislav Ardzinba
Vladislav Ardzinba
(1945–2010)
26 November 199412 February 200510 years, 78 daysIndependent1994
1999
Valery Arshba
(1995 – 2005)
2
Sergei Bagapsh
Sergei Bagapsh
(1949–2011)
12 February 200529 May 2011 †6 years, 106 daysUnited Abkhazia2005
2009
Raul Khajimba
(2005 – 2009)
Alexander Ankvab
(2009 – 2011)
Alexander Ankvab
Alexander Ankvab
(born 1952)
Acting
29 May 201126 September 2011120 daysAitaira
3
Alexander Ankvab
Alexander Ankvab
(born 1952)
26 September 20111 June 2014
(Resigned)
2 years, 248 daysAitaira2011Mikhail Logua
(2011 – 2013)
Valeri Bganba
Valeri Bganba
(born 1953)
Acting
1 June 201425 September 2014116 daysIndependent
4
Raul Khajimba
Raul Khajimba
(born 1958)
25 September 201412 January 2020
(Resigned)
5 years, 109 daysFNUA2014
2019
Vitali Gabnia
(2014 – 2018)
Aslan Bartsits
(2019 – 2020)
Valeri Bganba
Valeri Bganba
(born 1953)
Acting
13 January 202023 April 2020101 daysIndependent
5
Aslan Bzhania
Aslan Bzhania
(born 1963)
23 April 2020Incumbent3 years, 362 daysIndependent2020Badr Gunba
(since 2020)

Timeline[edit]

Aslan BzhaniaValeri BganbaRaul KhajimbaAlexander AnkvabSergei BagapshVladislav ArdzinbaValerian Kobakhia

Latest election[edit]

CandidateRunning mateVotes%
Aslan BzhaniaBadr Gunba53,74158.92
Adgur ArdzinbaArda Enverovich Ashub33,68636.93
Leonid DzapshbaViktor Shamilovich Khashba2,1142.32
None of the above1,6661.83
Total91,207100.00
Valid votes91,20795.90
Invalid/blank votes3,9024.10
Total votes95,109100.00
Registered voters/turnout132,91671.56
Source: Abkhaz World

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Восстановлен текст присяги президента в первоначальной редакции". Apsnypress. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Депутаты парламента большинством голосов внесли изменение в текст присяги президента РА". Apsnypress. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.

External links[edit]