Abkhazian presidential election, 2014

Abkhazian presidential election, 2014
Abkhazia
24 August 2014
 
Candidate Raul Khajimba Aslan Bzhania
Party Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia
Popular vote 50,494 35,860
Percentage 51.52% 36.59%
Candidate Merab Kishmaria Leonid Dzapshba
Popular vote 6,389 3,397
Percentage 6.52% 3.47%
President before election

Valeri Bganba (acting)

 Elected President

Raul Khajimba
Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia

Abkhazia
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Abkhazia
See also

Politics portal

Presidential elections were held in the Republic of Abkhazia on 24 August 2014. The sixth such elections since the post of President of Abkhazia was created in 1994, they were held early due to the resignation of President Alexander Ankvab on 1 June 2014 following the 2014 Abkhazian political crisis. Four candidates contested the elections, which were won by Raul Khadjimba, who received just over 50% of the vote.

Background

For more details on this topic, see 2014 Abkhazian political crisis.

On 27 May, opposition protesters stormed the Presidential administration, prompting Ankvab to flee to Gudauta. The resulting crisis culminated in his resignation on 1 June. As Vice President Mikhail Logua had already resigned in December 2013 due to ill health, Speaker of the People's Assembly of Abkhazia Valeri Bganba has become acting President.

On 3 June 2014, Chairman of the Central Election Committee Batal Tabagua announced that the Committee had begun preparations for the Presidential election and that the date had been set for 24 August.[1]

Candidates

Candidates could be nominated between 25 June and 14 July. Parties registered less than five months before the election date were not be eligible to nominate candidates.[1] On 14 July, the Central Election Commission announced that all candidates except Beslan Eshba had passed the Abkhaz language fluency test.[2] On 15 July, the Central Election Commission officially registered Khajimba, Kishmaria, Bazhania and Dzapshba as candidates.[3] Of these, the first three received their registration certificates that same day, and Dzapshba on 16 July.[4][5]

Presidential candidate Career Vice Presidential candidate Career Political support
Candidates participating in the election
Mirab Kishmaria
  • Minister of Defence (2007–present)
  • Army General
 Said Lolua
  • Nominated by an initiative group (25 June)[6]
  • Youth Forum (1 August)[7]
Leonid Dzapshba
  • Chairman of the Civil Union For the Rule of Law, Stability and Democracy
  • Minister of Internal Affairs (2010–2011)
 Boris Abitov
  • Nominated by an initiative group (27 June)[8]
Raul Khajimba Vitali Gabnia
Aslan Bzhania Astan Agrba
Nominated candidates, but not registered
Beslan Eshba
  • Vice Premier (2013–2014)
  • Member of Parliament (2012–2013)
  • Businessman
 Vakhtang Tsugba
  • Major General
  • Former Military Commissar
  • Nominated by an initiative group (26 June)[20]

Mirab Kishmaria

Kishmaria's campaign manager was former MP Ilia Gamisonia.

Kishmaria campaigned on 23 July in the villages of Sanarda, Agubedia and Pervaya Bedia (Tkvarcheli District),[21] on 24 July in Lykhny and Duripsh (Gudauta District),[22] on 25 July in Tsandrypsh and Makhadyr (Gagra District),[23] on 29 July again in Lykhny,[24] on 7 August among diaspora voters in Moscow,[25] on 14 August with voters in Cherkessk,[26] on 15 August in Primorskoe, Abgarkhuk and Achandara (Gudauta District),[27] on 18 August in Sukhumi's New District[28] and on 21 August in Tkvarcheli.[29]

Leonid Dzapshba

Dzapshba's campaign manager was former Chairman of the State Committee for Youth Affairs and Sports Rafael Ampar.[30] His candidate for the post of Prime Minister was former Foreign Affairs Minister Maxim Gvinjia.[31]

Dzapshba campaigned on 11 August in the villages of Babushara (Gulripshi District) and Kutol and Jgyarda (Ochamchira District),[31]

Raul Khajimba

Khajimba's campaign manager was MP Artur Mikvabia. His candidate for the post of Prime Minister was Beslan Butba, who had been appointed acting Vice Premier following President Ankvab's resignation.

Khajimba campaigned on 19 July in Ochamchira and Shaumyanovka (Gulripshi District),[32] on 22 July in the villages of Alakhadzy, Kolkhida and Bzypta (Gagra District),[33] on 23 July in Uarcha and Pshap (Gulripshi District),[34] on 30 July in Kutol (Ochamchira District),[35] on 11 August in Chlou and Tkhina (Ochamchira District),[36] on 12 August in Salme, Mekhadyr and Bagrypsh (Gagra District),[37] on 14 August in Myrkul (Ochamchira District),[38] on 21 August in Achandara and Duripsh (Gudauta District) and Lower Eshera (Sukhumi District)[39] and on 22 August in Lykhny (Gudauta District).[40]

Aslan Bzhania

On 16 July and for the duration of the election, Bzhania's tasks as head of the State Security Service were transferred to First Deputy Head Zurab Margania.[41]

Bzhania's campaign manager was Leonid Lakerbaia, who resigned as Prime Minister along with Alexander Ankvab, and his deputy campaign managers Mikhail Logua, Vice President under Ankvab until December 2013, and Agriculture Minister Beslan Jopua.[42] Bzhania's candidate for the post of Prime Minister was State Customs Committee Head Said Tarkil.[43]

Bzhania campaigned on 20 July in Tkvarcheli and the villages of Bedia and Agubedia (Tkvarcheli District),[44] on 21 July in Agudzera and Markhiaul (Gulripshi District),[44] on 23 July in Sukhumi's New District,[45] on 24 July in the villages of Gumista and Iastkhua (Sukhumi District),[46] on 28 July again in Sukhumi,[47] on 29 July again in Gulripshi District,[48] on 1 August among diaspora voters in Moscow,[49] on 7 August in Ochamchira,[50] on 14 August in Sukhumi's Sinop District,[51] on 16 August in Gagra,[52] on 17 August with Russian-speaking voters,[42] on 19 August in Pitsunda,[53] on 20 August in Gudauta,[43] and on 21 August in Sukhumi's Kinoprokat District.[54]

Campaign

On 24 July, a prayer service was held in Sukhumi Cathedral in which all four candidates participated.[55] On 25 July all four candidates signed an election covenant promising to conduct fair election campaigns.[56]

Participation of Georgian voters

One of the key complaints of the opposition during the 2014 Abkhazian political crisis was that thousands of Georgian residents of the Gali, Tkvarcheli and Ochamchira Districts had received Abkhazian passports in violation of citizenship law. Accordingly, on 1 July, 22787 Georgians were stricken from the voters list.[57]

Re-opening of railway-connection with Armenia through Georgia

On 7 July, four Armenian former and current members of the People's Assembly launched an appeal that Abkhazia should actively push for the restoration of the Russian-Armenian railway link through Abkhazia, as it would strengthen both Abkhazia's economy and sovereignty. The proposal received sharp criticism in Parliament, in part due to the use in the appeal of the phrase 'the Abkhazian-Georgian section of the railway'. On 16 July, Aslan Bzhania expressed his support for the proposal.[58]

Incidents

Around 4:05 in the morning of 20 August, a grenade was thrown into courtyard of CEC head Batal Tabagua. No one was injured, Tabagua's and neighbouring houses were damaged.[59]

On 22 August, at about 18:00, the parked car of Nuzhnaya journalist Isida Chania was shot at from a white Lexus SUV. At the crime scene, 29 empty cartridges and 2 bullets were found.[60]

Conduct

As in previous elections, there will be polling stations outside Abkhazia, in Moscow and Cherkessk. For the first time, there will also be a polling station in Istanbul. All three polling stations are assigned to District no. 5 in Sukhumi, where the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is located.[61]

Opinion polls

Date Source Khajimba Bzhania Kishmaria Dzapshba
End July–start August 2014 ISM42%33%19%6%
4–10 August 2014 ISM40%36%15%9%
22–23 August 2014 (Suhumi) Medium-Orinet45%33%14%8%

Results

According to the official results released by the Central Election Commission on 26 August, Raul Khajimba was elected in the first round with 50.60% of the vote.[62]

 Summary of the 24 August 2014 Abkhazian presidential election results
Presidential candidate Vice Presidential candidate votes %
Raul Khajimba Vitali Gabnia 50,586 50.60
Aslan Bzhania Astan Agrba 35,869 35.88
Mirab Kishmaria Said Lolua 6,390 6.39
Leonid Dzapshba Boris Abitov 3,397 3.40
Against all 1,870 1.87
Invalid 1,854 1.85
Total number of votes cast 99,966 100.00
Turnout 99,966 75.24
Abstention 32,895 24.76
Total number of registered voters 132,861 100.00
Source: Apsnypress

References

  1. 1 2 "ЦИК Абхазии начал подготовку к выборам президента". Apsnypress. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "По результатам тестирования на предмет свободного владения государственным языком, зарегистрированными могут быть четыре из пяти человек, выдвинутых кандидатами в президенты Абхазии". Apsnypress. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "ЦИК зарегистрировала четырех кандидатов в президенты РА". Apsnypress. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Вручены удостоверения кандидатов в президенты Раулю Хаджимба, Мирабу Кишмария и Аслану Бжания". Apsnypress. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Сегодня в Центризбиркоме вручили удостоверение кандидата в президенты Дзапшба Леониду Юрьевичу". Apsnypress. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "ЦИК зарегистрировал инициативную группу по выдвижению кандидатом в президенты и.о. министра обороны Мираба Кишмария". Apsnypress. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  7. ↑ "Форум молодежи поддерживает кандидата в президенты Мираба Кишмария". Apsnypress. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Центральная избирательная комиссия зарегистрировала инициативную группу по выдвижению Леонида Дзапшба кандидатом в президенты". Apsnypress. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "ЦИК Абхазии зарегистрировал политическую партию "Форум народного единства Абхазии"". Apsnypress. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "КС принял рекомендательное решение о выдвижении и поддержке тандема Рауль Хаджимба – Виталий Габния на выборах президента РА". Apsnypress. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Аруаа: Абхазии нужно ответственное руководство, способное реформы". Apsnypress. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "Большинство членов исполкома Политсовета Компартии Абхазии поддерживают кандидатуру Рауля Хаджимба на президентских выборах". Apsnypress. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "Бизнесмен Виталий Лейба поддерживает тандем Рауля Хаджимба и Виталия Габния". Apsnypress. 30 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  14. ↑ "Обращение группы депутатов к гражданам Республики Абхазия". Apsnypress. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  15. ↑ "Обращение депутатов предыдущих созывов Народного Собрания – Парламента Республики Абхазия к народу Абхазии". Apsnypress. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
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  17. ↑ ""Амцахара" поддержала кандидатуру Аслана Бжания на предстоящих выборах Президента". Apsnypress. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  18. ↑ "Пресс-конференция М. Логуа". Apsnypress. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
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  21. ↑ "Мираб Кишмария: "Я не давать пустых обещаний"". Apsnypress. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
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  24. ↑ "Мираб Кишмария: мы должны объединиться и идти вперед". Apsnypress. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  25. ↑ "Дать новый импульс сотрудничеству с Россией". Apsnypress. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
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  28. ↑ "В новом микрорайоне Сухума прошла встреча кандидата в президенты Мираба Кишмария и кандидата в вице-президенты Саида Лолуа с избирателями". Apsnypress. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  29. ↑ "Кандидат в президенты Мираб Кишмария и кандидат в вице-президенты Саид Лолуа встретились с избирателями в Ткуарчале". Apsnypress. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  30. ↑ Tuaev, Magomed; Charnyy, Semen (24 August 2014). "Представители штабов двух кандидатов в президенты Абхазии заявили о серьезных нарушениях в ходе голосования". Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  31. 1 2 "Леонид Дзапшба: «тот, кто выбрал путь служения, должен не жалея времени и сил, посвящать себя своему народу. Я и моя команда к этому готовы»". Apsnypress. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
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  42. 1 2 "Кандидат в президенты Аслан Бжания выступает за тесное взаимодействие с Россией.". Apsnypress. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  43. 1 2 "Кандидат в президенты Аслан Бжания выступает за внутриобщественное согласи". Apsnypress. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  44. 1 2 "Аслан Бжания выступает за укрепление абхазо-российского сотрудничества". Apsnypress. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  45. ↑ "Аслан Бжания: Я являюсь последователем и В. Г. Ардзинба, и С.В. Багапша, и Александра Анкваба". Apsnypress. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  46. ↑ "Аслан Бжания: "На государственных деятелей Абхазии было совершено более 15 покушений и до недавнего времени ни одно из них не было раскрыто"". Apsnypress. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  47. ↑ "Аслан Бжания: "Сопереживаю с теми, кто сегодня оказался в зоне боевых действий на Украине"". Apsnypress. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  48. ↑ "Аслан Бжания: "Нужны продуманные, грамотные реформы"". Apsnypress. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  49. ↑ "Аслан Бжания: отношения с Россией требуют нового содержания". Apsnypress. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  50. ↑ "Аслан Бжания: После выборов в Абхазии не должно быть проигравших". Apsnypress. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  51. ↑ "Аслан Бжания: Образование, наука и здоровье должны быть национальной идеей". Apsnypress. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  52. ↑ "Аслан Бжания: «Мы должны предложить обществу эффективную структуру власти.". Apsnypress. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  53. ↑ "Аслан Бжания: По закону и.о. президента не имел права поддержать того или иного кандидата". Apsnypress. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  54. ↑ "Аслан Бжания: власть должна обслуживать народ, а не наоборот". Apsnypress. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  55. ↑ "В Сухумском кафедральном соборе состоялся молебен с участием всех четырех кандидатов в президенты Абхазии". Apsnypress. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  56. ↑ "Кандидаты в президенты Республики Абхазия Аслан Бжания, Леонид Дзапшба, Мираб Кишмария и Рауль Хаджимба подписали "Договор об общественном согласии"". Apsnypress. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  57. ↑ "Sokhumi Striking Off Over 22,000 'Illegal Passport' Holders from Voters List". Civil Georgia. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  58. ↑ "Abkhaz Presidential Candidate Says Sokhumi Should Push for Restoration of Railway". Civil Georgia. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  59. ↑ "Прокуратура возбудила уголовное дело в связи со взрывом гранаты во дворе дома Председателя ЦИК РА". Apsnypress. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
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  61. ↑ "Центризбирком утвердил составы участковых избирательных комиссий за пределами Абхазии". Apsnypress. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  62. ↑ "Центризбирком подвел окончательные итоги по выборам президента РА". Apsnypress. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.

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