Aslan Bzhania Wins De facto Presidential Elections in Abkhazia

Opposition leader Aslan Bzhania won the so-called presidential elections in Georgia’s occupied region of Abkhazia with 56.85% of votes (52,289 votes). Adgur Ardzinba received 35.42% and Leonid Dziapshpa 2.22%.

On March 22, the de facto presidential elections were held in occupied Abkhazia, following a court ruling which announced the previous “presidential elections” held in the occupied region on September 8, 2019, illegitimate and called for repeat “elections”.

The repeat "election" was preceded by opposition rallies and the storming of government buildings.

The main opposition candidate, Aslan Bzhania, failed to run in the previous "elections" due to a health issue. Repeat "elections" were set as a result of the actions of his supporters.

Raul Khajimba, who won the "elections" back in September 2019, did not participate in this weekend’s round. Only three candidates, Aslan Bzhania, Adgur Ardzinba and Leonid Dziapshpa, expressed their desire for the presidency in Abkhazia.

Due to the dangers of the spread of COVID-19, Russian delegates, who usually observe the "elections," were not in attendance at the process for the first time. A limited number of international observers was present, including representatives of the Russian embassy in Abkhazia.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimer Putin sent his congratulations to the new “President of Abkhazia”.

"The convincing victory in an election held in an environment of free choice is the result of your supreme authority among your compatriots," reads the congratulatory message from President Putin. He went on to express readiness to "work with Bzhania to strengthen the alliance between Russia and Abkhazia”.

Prior to the elections, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia released a statement, in which they cautiously but suitably addressed the ‘illegality’ of the existence of not only Abkhazia as an ‘autonomous republic’ but also the authenticity of its elections.

The “so-called presidential elections in occupied Abkhazia region taking place on 22 March 2020, […] fully contradict the fundamental norms and principles of international law and blatantly violate Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the statement began.

“These so-called elections are illegal and cannot have any legal effect… Half a million internally displaced persons and refugees were expelled from the Abkhazia region as a result of several waves of ethnic cleansing… The Russian occupying power exercises full effective control on the ground,” reads the statement.

The declaration once again underlined the international support which Georgia has in regard to the occupied regions. “The international community unwaveringly supports Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,” reads the statement, going on to emphasize that the international community “does not recognize so-called elections held in the occupied territories and will never accept the attempt of forceful change of sovereign borders of Georgia”.

The MFA once more demanded that the Russian forces leave the occupied regions, which must be done systematically with the help of Georgia’s allies. The Ministry “calls upon the Russian Federation to fulfill the undertaken international obligations, withdraw its military forces from Georgia’s territory and reverse its unlawful decision regarding so-called independence of the occupied regions.”

The MFA “appeals to the international community to give a due assessment and take effective measures to counter the illegal processes taking place in the occupied territories”.

A very important passage from the declaration can be read while the Ministry deciphers what these elections mean to the Georgian region of Abkhazia. “The so-called elections represent yet another futile attempt to legitimize the ethnic cleansing, the ongoing illegal occupation and factual annexation process in the Abkhazia region,” concludes the statement.

Following the elections, various officials, international organizations and members of the international community responded to the polls and declared them illegitimate.

Much of international society has been open about supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity, not recognizing occupied Abkhazia as a separate state. To this day, the Georgian region of Abkhazia has been formally recognized as a state by just five countries: Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, and Syria.

The European Union has been vocal when declaring its support for Georgia’s unity, and this weekend’s “elections” were no exception.

The EU made a statement in which it claimed it does not recognize the legality in which the so-called “elections” in the breakaway region of Abkhazia took place.

"The European Union supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, as recognized by international law. With regard to the so-called presidential elections that took place in the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia on 22 March 2020, we recall that the European Union does not recognize the constitutional and legal framework in which they took place.

"The EU will continue to pursue its policy of non-recognition and engagement. The EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia remain fully mobilized in this regard," the EU said in its statement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia once again reiterated full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.

“The sham elections held in Abkhazia today violate international law. It should be seen as part of Russia’s intensifying hybrid and influence activities against Georgia, which include a significant deterioration of the situation on the administrative line of control of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, cyberattacks against Georgia and intensified disinformation campaigns,” Foreign Minister Reinsalu said.

OSCE group of friends of Georgia - Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, made a joint statement that they “do not recognize the legitimacy of the so-called 'presidential elections' held in Georgia’s Abkhazia region on March 22, 2020”.

By The GT Team

Image source: marshalpress.ge