Latest Highlights from Abkhazia
Newly Elected President Badra Gunba Pledges to Strengthen Abkhazia's Statehood
SUKHUM / AQW’A — Following his victory in the presidential runoff election on 1 March, securing 54.73% of the vote, President-elect Badra Gunba held his first press conference at the International Press Centre of the Central Election Commission (CEC). He outlined his vision for Abkhazia, addressed key political issues, and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the state and fostering national unity.
A Commitment to the People and National Reconciliation
Gunba began by expressing his gratitude to the Abkhazian people, acknowledging their patience and wisdom throughout the electoral process. He described the election as a testament to Abkhazia’s democratic development despite the challenges of the campaign.
“We understand the great responsibility placed upon us. Our programme, presented to the electorate, must become a reality. It is essential that we are understood not only by those who supported us but by every citizen of our country. We must work together to strengthen our statehood.”
Vice President-elect Beslan Bigvava echoed this sentiment, thanking all voters, including those who supported the opposing candidate. “We are one people. We are ready to work with everyone who can contribute to the development of our state
FNEA: "The Elections Were Held Under Unprecedented Pressure on Voters"
SUKHUM / AQW’A — The opposition party FNEA (FNUA / The Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia) has released a strong statement regarding the outcome of Abkhazia’s recent presidential elections, alleging that the process was marred by administrative pressure, media bias, and a disregard for electoral integrity. The party accuses the outgoing authorities of using extensive resources, both local and foreign, to manipulate the election in favour of one candidate while suppressing political opponents.
FNEA warns that those who financed the new administration will soon seek to capitalise on their investments, pushing through controversial projects that undermine national sovereignty. Despite this, the party asserts that the opposition remains united and will stand firm against any attempts to compromise Abkhazia’s political and economic independence.
Sergey Shamba: "Geography has determined our destiny"
In this interview with Den Respubliki, Sergey Shamba, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, discusses the country’s foreign policy priorities, the importance of its strategic alliance with Russia, and the global attention on Abkhazia’s democratic process. He also addresses the possibility of forming a Union State with Russia and Belarus while maintaining Abkhazia’s sovereignty.
Reflecting on Abkhazia’s geopolitical significance, Shamba notes:
"Geography has determined our destiny. Since ancient times, Abkhazia has attracted the interest of great powers, and today, we once again find ourselves at the centre of global transformations."
Vladimir Delba has been appointed as Acting Prime Minister of Abkhazia
SUKHUM / AQW’A — Vladimir Delba has been appointed as Acting Prime Minister of Abkhazia, the President-elect of the republic, Badra Gunba, announced at a press conference on 3 March.
Until today, Delba served as Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Finance of Abkhazia.
Earlier today, Valery Bganba, who had been serving as Acting Prime Minister, submitted his resignation. Bganba was appointed to the post on 20 November, succeeding Alexander Ankvab, whose resignation was one of the conditions outlined in an agreement between the authorities and the opposition following the protests in November.
“My mission is complete. I have resigned from the post of Acting Prime Minister due to the conclusion of the election campaign.”
— Valery Bganba
When asked whether an audit would be conducted into Bganba’s tenure as Acting Prime Minister, Gunba stated: “We need to analyse all the steps that have been taken so far.”
For the Sake of the Elections
As the mimosa sellers protesting at the Psou border had previously stated, the transportation of mimosa into Russia would only be allowed after the Abkhazian presidential elections.
And as expected – from 2 March, the supply of mimosa from Abkhazia to Russia has resumed. Even the California thrips, [an insect that damages plants], which had been detected by Rosselkhoznadzor [Russia’s agricultural watchdog], is no longer an obstacle to this process.
It is worth recalling that the ban on mimosa exports from Abkhazia was introduced on 22 February due to the detection of this dangerous Californian insect in the flowers by Russian quarantine services.
“As the euphoria of election victory fades and the realities of governance set in, Badra Gunba will have to address the 42% of votes cast “in defiance.” Ruling in the same way as his three predecessors will no longer be viable. To break the deadlock that has trapped the country for years, further materialising the campaign slogan “for stability” appears to be a flawed course for both the nation and its people.
After all, this elusive “stability,” with all its shortcomings, is the root of Abkhazia’s ongoing crisis. What is needed are real reforms across almost all sectors, guided by a step-by-step action plan. Only then will the term “stability” take on a more constructive and forward-looking meaning.”
— Inal Khashig, Journalist
Abkhazia – The Second Round: Quantitative and Qualitative Parameters, by Sergey Markedonov
Renowned Caucasus expert Sergey Markedonov, in his analysis, examines what these results reveal about Abkhazia’s political landscape, the challenges of uniting a divided electorate, and Russia’s role in the process.
He also considers the broader lessons from the election, from media narratives to the future of governance in the republic.
The 2025 elections have seen much discussion about Russia’s role, and it is worth addressing this factor. Moscow’s interest in Abkhazia and its attempts to influence internal processes in the republic are not new. The success or failure of the ‘Abkhazian project’ directly impacts Russia’s own international positioning. Two key aspects must be considered here. Firstly, there is a discrepancy in perception: for Moscow and its political elite, the Abkhazian issue is not a top priority, whereas for Sukhum, Russia is priority number one, two, three, and beyond. Secondly, Russia is not particularly comfortable with Abkhazia’s recurring cycle of snap elections and leadership changes. These two factors combined have shaped the dynamics observed thus far.
— Sergey Markedonov
Black Propaganda: The Art of Deception in Media and Politics
On 28 February, just before the second round of elections, an article titled Закулисное вмешательство Закулисное вмешательство Турции в абхазские выборы несомненно (Türkiye's Covert Interference in Abkhazia’s Elections is Undeniable) was published by Sergey Andreev on the Russian Ritmeurasia website.
The article assesses Türkiye, the Turkish Abkhaz diaspora, and, of course, opposition candidate Adgur Ardzinba through defamatory scenarios detached from reality.
Despite the numerous slanders and falsified documents that emerged against Ardzinba during the election process, the author not only references these but also presents the fictional scenarios he has constructed as factual. While it may be assumed that these actions aimed to prevent Ardzinba from winning the election, they appear to be part of a broader plan.
Below are some key excerpts from the article; however, it is important to recall certain facts beforehand:
During the protests in November 2023, demonstrators discovered documents in the presidential office located within the parliament building. These documents explicitly revealed instructions reflecting Russia’s influence over Abkhazian policies.
Two of these directives were as follows:
Preventing the increase of Türkiye’s political and ideological influence in the Republic of Abkhazia, including through Turkish humanitarian aid programmes and projects.
Deadline: 31 December 2022.Tightening the procedures for granting Abkhazian citizenship to returnees from Türkiye and the Middle East.
Deadline: 31 December 2022.
[The Deadline is for implementing this directive. —Ed.]
From this, it can be stated with certainty that this article is not merely the opinion of a single writer but rather a component of a state policy.
During Aslan Bzhania’s tenure, efforts were made to implement some of these directives. In the first round of elections, the entry of Abkhaz citizens from Türkiye into Abkhazia was obstructed, with some even facing a ten-year ban on entry.
Considering that Bzhania's successor, Badra Gunba, has remained silent on this matter, it would not be an exaggeration to suggest that challenging times lie ahead for the Abkhaz diaspora.
***
The main points highlighted in the article are as follows:
Ankara is allegedly planning to utilise crime syndicate leaders and terrorists currently residing within its borders. Among these individuals are those directly connected to Abkhazia, as well as members of the so-called Ichkeria (Chechen separatist movement).
Historically, Türkiye has hosted a large Abkhaz diaspora, which could have contributed to fostering relations between the two nations. However, the article claims that Ankara not only supports Abkhaz criminal organisations and drug trafficking but is also attempting to carry out certain projects in Abkhazia.
Although there are claims that trade volume between Türkiye and Abkhazia has increased, the current figure remains at merely 11%, even lower than in previous years.
According to experts, despite Türkiye’s relatively limited influence in Abkhazia, certain political circles are allegedly exploiting this narrative in ways that are detrimental to the broader interests of the Abkhaz people. These circles purportedly attempt to threaten and blackmail Moscow with the message: "If Moscow does not support us, we will turn to Ankara."
In this context, is it merely coincidental that Adgur Ardzinba has extended gestures towards Türkiye and engaged in discussions with Ankara? While Ardzinba assured that he would not obstruct agreements with Russia, agreements highly advantageous to ordinary Abkhaz citizens, he has reportedly been directly involved in organising protests against them.
The effectiveness of such manoeuvres remains debatable. However, the emergence of figures presenting themselves as "pro-Turkish" politicians and the discussions on whether Abkhazia, a republic entirely dependent on Russia, could fall under Türkiye’s sphere of influence are noteworthy developments.
The pro-Russian candidate, Badra Gunba, who has explicitly declared his support for strengthening ties with Moscow, secured a decisive victory over Adgur Ardzinba in January. Meanwhile, the "pro-Turkish" rhetoric and political tendencies championed by Ardzinba and his alleged criminal-terrorist allies received approximately 37% of votes in the first round. This outcome is seen as an indication that the power struggle will continue in different forms.
According to reliable sources within Abkhazia, these plans could materialise as follows: On the eve of the second round of elections, or on election day itself, armed militants could be clandestinely smuggled into Abkhazia via elements linked to Ichkeria and Abkhaz radicals in Türkiye. Civilian vessels departing from Türkiye may be used to transport these militants and their weapons. Alternatively, the Georgia-Abkhazia border could be considered a crossing point; however, given the presence of Russian peacekeepers there, the maritime route appears to be the more feasible option.
The motivations of these circles, who, with their pro-Turkish and anti-Russian stances, seem willing to plunge their own land into violent chaos, are outlined as follows:
- The desire to maintain the current order in Abkhazia, which entails corruption, the embezzlement of Russian financial aid, widespread poverty, and economic dependency on Russian grants. At the same time, they purportedly turn a blind eye to Türkiye’s encroachment into the commercial sector, Ankara’s alleged interest in seizing control of the port of Sukhum being a key objective in this regard.
- The recognition that Türkiye has no real intention of investing in Abkhazia or offering tangible benefits to its people. Instead, Ankara is accused of seeking to use Abkhazia as a transit hub for economic purposes while facilitating the entry of extremist nationalist groups and terrorist elements into the region.Given these realities, the conclusion is drawn that for Türkiye and its regional proxies, Abkhazia is not viewed as a developing and stable state but rather as an uncontrolled “black hole.”
Full article in Russian (Ritmeurasia.ru)
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