President of Abkhazia

President of the Republic of Abkhazia
Standard of the President of Abkhazia
165px Incumbent Raul Khajimba since 25 September 2014
Residence	Sukhumi
Term length	5 years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	Vladislav Ardzinba
Formation	26 November 1994

The position of President of Abkhazia 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

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.

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

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

№	Name (Birth–Death)	Position	Tenure		Political Affiliation
			Took Office	Left Office
1	Valerian Kobakhiya (1929–1992)	Chairman of the Supreme Soviet	25 August 1990	24 December 1990	Communist Party of Abkhazia
2	Vladislav Ardzinba (1945–2010)	Chairman of the Supreme Soviet	24 December 1990	23 July 1992	Communist Party of Abkhazia
(2)		Chairman of Parliament	23 July 1992	26 November 1994	Independent

List of Presidents of Abkhazia

№	Name (Birth–Death)	Tenure		Political Affiliation	Vice President(s)
		Took Office	Left Office
1	Vladislav Ardzinba (1945–2010)	26 November 1994	12 February 2005	Independent	Valery Arshba
2	Sergei Bagapsh (1949–2011)	12 February 2005	29 May 2011 (Died in Office)	United Abkhazia	Raul Khadjimba (2005–2009) Alexander Ankvab (2009–2011)
3	Alexander Ankvab (1952–)	29 May 2011 Acting President until 26 September 2011	1 June 2014 (Resigned)	Aitaira	Mikhail Logua (2011–2013)
—	Valeri Bganba (1953–) Acting President	1 June 2014	25 September 2014	Independent	Vacant
4	Raul Khajimba (1958–)	25 September 2014	Incumbent	Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia	Vitali Gabnia

See also

• Government of the Republic of Abkhazia
• Prime Minister of Abkhazia
• Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia

Latest elections

 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

External links

• President of the Republic of Abkhazia. Official site