Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia

Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia Форум Народного единства Абхазии აფხაზეთის ეროვნული ერთიანობის ფორუმი
Leader	Raul Khajimba
Founded	February 8, 2005
Headquarters	აფხაზეთის ეროვნული ერთიანობის ფორუმი
Colours	Red, Green
People's Assembly	6 / 35
Politics of Abkhazia Political parties Elections

The Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia (FNUA, Russian: Форум Народного единства Абхазии, Georgian: აფხაზეთის ეროვნული ერთიანობის ფორუმი) is a prominent oppositional political party in Abkhazia. It is led by Former Prime Minister, Vice President and President Elect Raul Khajimba.

History

The FNUA was founded on 8 February 2005 to unite 12 opposition parties, socio-political movements, public organisations and youth organisations, which however continued to exist as individual entities. It mainly brought together supporters of Raul Khajimba in the October 2004 presidential election. Khajimba had lost that election, but became Vice President following the power-sharing agreement concluded to end the post-election crisis, and the FNUA considered ensuring the strict implementation of that agreement one of its principal tasks. The FNUA was initially governed by a coordinating board of twelve members, headed by Gennadi Alamia, co-chairman of the Social-Democratic Party of Abkhazia.^[1]

The FNUA became a socio-political movement on 10 October 2005 and Avtandil Gartskia, Vitali Gabnia and Daur Arshba were elected its co-chairmen.^[2] On 6 March 2008 the FNUA was transformed into a political party and Daur Arshba and Astamur Tania became its two co-chairmen.^[3]

In the run-up to the 12 December 2009 Presidential election, the FNUA intended to nominate Raul Khajimba and Zaur Ardzinba, but in the end the pair could not agree on who would get what position, and the congress of the FNUA, planned for 29 October, was called off.^[4] Khajimba and Ardzinba then entered the election separately, ending up 2nd and 3rd respectively, behind incumbent President Sergei Bagapsh.

On 12 May 2010, the FNUA held a congress during which the number of Chairmen was reduced from 2 to 1, and the number of Deputy Chairmen from 4 to 2. Raul Khajimba was elected to the new leadership position, with Daur Arshba and Rita Lolua becoming his deputies.^[5]

On 10 July 2013, the Forum signed a cooperation agreement with fellow opposition parties United Abkhazia, the People's Party of Abkhazia and the Party for the Economic Development of Abkhazia, and with a number of social movements.^[6]

On 2 March 2016, the FNUA condemned a planned referendum to hold an early presidential election.^[7]

Original composition

The Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia originally brought together three political parties:

• the People's Party of Abkhazia
• the Social-Democratic Party of Abkhazia
• the Republican Party of Abkhazia

one socio-political movement:

• Aidgylara

six public organisations and movements:

• Aiaaira
• Akhatsa
• the Union of Defenders of Abkhazia
• Rodina
• Apsadgil
• the Abkhazian branch of the LDPR

and two youth organisations:

• Smena
• the Social-Democratic Youth of Abkhazia

References

1. Kuchuberia, Angela (2005-02-09). В Абхазии создан Форум народного единства, в который вошли двенадцать партий и движений республики (in Russian). Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
2. Kuchuberia, Angela (2005-10-07). Абхазская оппозиция создала Общественно-политическое движение "Форум Народного единства Абхазии" (in Russian). Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
3. Kuchuberia, Angela (2008-03-06). Общественно-политическое движение "Форум народного единства Абхазии" стало политической партией (in Russian). Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
4. Allenova, Olga (2009-11-02). Сергей Багапш столкнется с поддержанными конкурентами (in Russian). Kommersant. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
5. Kuchuberia, Anzhela (13 May 2010). Рауль Хаджимба возглавил оппозиционный "Форум народного единства Абхазии". Caucasian Knot (in Russian). Retrieved 19 May 2010.
6. "Ряд политических партий и общественных движений Абхазии подписали Соглашение о сотрудничестве и совместную декларацию". Apsnypress. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
7. "РПП ФНЕА: действия лидеров оппозиции направлены на дезинформацию населения и на преднамеренную дестабилизацию обстановки в стране". Abkhazia Inform. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.