Abkhazian presidential election, 2011
Encyclopedia
A presidential election was held in Abkhazia
on 26 August 2011. This was the fifth such election since the post of President of the Republic of Abkhazia was created in 1994. The election was held to elect the successor of president Sergei Bagapsh
who died in office on 29 May 2011.
; however, the Constitution of Abkhazia
required an election to be held within three months after the unexpected death of incumbent president Sergei Bagapsh
on 29 May. On 8 June the People's Assembly set the election date for 26 August. The MPs decided against earlier dates such as 20 August, which is immediately after the summer holidays, as the election is largely organised by teachers and to allow for repairs to school buildings to be completed, where many polling stations are located.
Prospective candidates have to be nominated between 27 June and 17 July. This can be done either by an initiative group of at least 10 people with a list of between 2000 and 2500 signatures, or by a political party registered with the Central Election Commission. The only parties registered in this way are United Abkhazia
, the Forum of the National Unity of Abkhazia, the Party of the Economic Development of Abkhazia
, the People's Party
and the Communist Party
. After the nomination period ends, the Central Election Commission will verify the signature lists and whether candidates satisfy the set requirements. To test the nominees' proficiency in Abkhaz, it has established a language commission. Registration of the candidates has to be completed before 27 July and two days after their registration the Central Election Commission has to make public the list of nominees whose candidacy had been approved.
temporarily took over as Acting President and Vice-Premier Beslan Kubrava as Prime Minister.
On 19 July, the League of Voters "For Fair Elections" held its first press conference to announce that it would monitor the upcoming election as in previous years.
Apart from these broadcasts, each candidate could send in commercials up to five minutes, which were broadcast on weekdays between 1 and 25 August, three times daily (8:00, 18:00 and 20:00).
The order in which the broadcasts of candidates appeared was determined by draw, and was as follows:
The official results, released on 27 August, showed only small differences, and Alexander Ankvab was elected with 54.90% of the vote. He is to be sworn in on 26 September.
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
on 26 August 2011. This was the fifth such election since the post of President of the Republic of Abkhazia was created in 1994. The election was held to elect the successor of president Sergei Bagapsh
Sergei Bagapsh
Sergei Uasyl-ipa Bagapsh was the second President of the Republic of Abkhazia. He was Prime Minister from 1997 to 1999 and was later elected as President in 2005. He was re-elected in the 2009 presidential election...
who died in office on 29 May 2011.
Background
The election was originally scheduled to take place in 2014, five years after the previous electionAbkhazian presidential election, 2009
On 12 December 2009, Abkhazia held its fourth Presidential election since the post of President of the Republic of Abkhazia was created in 1994. The election was won by incumbent president Sergei Bagapsh in the first round with 61% of the votes, thus gaining a second term in office. He was be...
; however, the Constitution of Abkhazia
Constitution of Abkhazia
The Constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia was adopted by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Abkhazia of the 12th convocation on November 26, 1994, and by the national referendum on October 3, 1999, with an amendment adopted by the national referendum on the same day.-Structure:The...
required an election to be held within three months after the unexpected death of incumbent president Sergei Bagapsh
Sergei Bagapsh
Sergei Uasyl-ipa Bagapsh was the second President of the Republic of Abkhazia. He was Prime Minister from 1997 to 1999 and was later elected as President in 2005. He was re-elected in the 2009 presidential election...
on 29 May. On 8 June the People's Assembly set the election date for 26 August. The MPs decided against earlier dates such as 20 August, which is immediately after the summer holidays, as the election is largely organised by teachers and to allow for repairs to school buildings to be completed, where many polling stations are located.
Requirements and registration procedure
According to the Law on the Election of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia, candidates for the Presidency have to:- possess Abkhazian citizenship;
- be of Abkhaz nationality;
- be fluent in the Abkhaz language;
- be no younger than 35 and no older than 65 years of age;
- be eligible to vote;
- have permanently lived in Abkhazia for the last five years up to the election day.
Prospective candidates have to be nominated between 27 June and 17 July. This can be done either by an initiative group of at least 10 people with a list of between 2000 and 2500 signatures, or by a political party registered with the Central Election Commission. The only parties registered in this way are United Abkhazia
United Abkhazia
United Abkhazia is a political party in Abkhazia. United Abkhazia was founded on March 25, 2004 as a socio-political movement, with the specific goal of presenting a single opposition candidate for the October 2004 presidential elections....
, the Forum of the National Unity of Abkhazia, the Party of the Economic Development of Abkhazia
Party of the Economic Development of Abkhazia
The Party of the Economic Development of Abkhazia is an opposition party in Abkhazia led by businessman Beslan Butba.-History:The Party for the Economic Progress of Abkhazia was founded during its first congress on 26 September 2007...
, the People's Party
People's Party of Abkhazia
The People’s Party of Abkhazia is an oppositional political party in Abkhazia led by Iakub Lakoba. Founded in March 1992 it is one of the oldest political parties in Abkhazia. The People's Party was one of the parties that stood at the basis of the Forum of Abkhaz People's Unity founded 8 February...
and the Communist Party
Communist Party of Abkhazia
The Communist Party of Abkhazia is a political party in the Georgian break-away republic of Abkhazia. The party leader is Lev Shamba.The CPA was founded in March 1921 with the demand of a separate Abkhaz Soviet Republic. It was then led by E. Eshba. Eshba had formed a Bolshevik...
. After the nomination period ends, the Central Election Commission will verify the signature lists and whether candidates satisfy the set requirements. To test the nominees' proficiency in Abkhaz, it has established a language commission. Registration of the candidates has to be completed before 27 July and two days after their registration the Central Election Commission has to make public the list of nominees whose candidacy had been approved.
Candidates
All three candidates who were nominated for the election successfully completed their registration: Acting President Alexander Ankvab, Prime Minister Sergei Shamba and opposition leader Raul Khajimba. Following their nomination, Shamba and his Vice Presidential candidate, Shamil Adzynba, as well as Khajimba and his running mate Svetlana Jergenia applied for registration on 16 July. Ankvab and his Vice Presidential candidate Mikhail Logua filed their application on 17 July. The three Presidential candidates passed their Abkhaz language test on 20 July 2011. All candidates were registered by the CEC on 25 July and received their certificates on 26 July.| Presidential candidate | Career | Vice Presidential candidate | Career | Political support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Vladislav Ardzinba Vladislav Grigori-ipa Ardzinba was the first President of Abkhazia. A historian by education, Ardzinba led Abkhazia to de facto independence in the 1992-1993 War with Georgia, but its de jure independence from Georgia remained internationally unrecognised during Ardzinba's two terms as President... |
Aruaa Aruaa is an organisation in Abkhazia uniting veterans of the 1992-1993 war with Georgia. It was founded 10 May 2007. 534 people were present at its founding congress. The first Minister of Defence of Abkhazia Vladimir Arshba was unanimously elected Chairman of the organisation, and Vadim Smyr and... (7 July) |
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| Raul Jumka-ipa Khajimba | Svetlana Jergenia | |||
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Gulripsh district Gulripsh district is a district of Abkhazia, Georgia’s breakaway republic. It corresponds to the eponymous Georgian district. Its capital is Gulripsh, the town by the same name... |
United Abkhazia United Abkhazia is a political party in Abkhazia. United Abkhazia was founded on March 25, 2004 as a socio-political movement, with the specific goal of presenting a single opposition candidate for the October 2004 presidential elections.... (22 July) Amtsakhara Amtsakhara is an important political movement and party in Abkhazia, a de facto independent republic in Caucasus whose independence is recognized by Russia and Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru but whom most of the international community considers as a part of Georgia.Amtsakhara originally formed as an... (2 August) |
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| Aleksandr Zolotinska-ipa Ankvab Alexander Ankvab Alyksandr Zolotinska-ipa Ankvab is an Abkhaz politician and businessman who has been President of Abkhazia since 2011. Under President Sergei Bagapsh, he previously served as Prime Minister from 2005 to 2010 and Vice-President from 2010 to 2011.... |
Mikhail Logua | |||
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Party of the Economic Development of Abkhazia The Party of the Economic Development of Abkhazia is an opposition party in Abkhazia led by businessman Beslan Butba.-History:The Party for the Economic Progress of Abkhazia was founded during its first congress on 26 September 2007... (21 July) Communist Party of Abkhazia The Communist Party of Abkhazia is a political party in the Georgian break-away republic of Abkhazia. The party leader is Lev Shamba.The CPA was founded in March 1921 with the demand of a separate Abkhaz Soviet Republic. It was then led by E. Eshba. Eshba had formed a Bolshevik... (9 August) |
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| Sergei Miron-ipa Shamba | Shamil Adzynba |
Election campaign
The election campaign official began when the candidates received their registration certificates on 26 July. According to election law, Alexander Ankvab and Sergei Shamba had to take leave from their offices. Correspondingly, Parliament Speaker Nugzar AshubaNugzar Ashuba
Nugzar Nuri-ipa Ashuba is the current speaker of the People's Assembly of Abkhazia. He was elected to the People's Assembly in the 2002 elections, and he was elected speaker on 3 April 2002....
temporarily took over as Acting President and Vice-Premier Beslan Kubrava as Prime Minister.
On 19 July, the League of Voters "For Fair Elections" held its first press conference to announce that it would monitor the upcoming election as in previous years.
TV broadcasts
Each Presidential Candidate received three hours of free air time on national state television in the four weeks running up to election day, and each Vice Presential candidate one hour. During the first week, candidates had the choice between an hour of live interaction with voters and sending in in a pre-recorded dvd. In the second week, the candidates, alone or assisted by no more than four associates, received one hour of live interaction with voters. In the third and fourth weeks, first the Vice-Presidential candidate and then the Presidential candidates had the opportunity to answer alternatingly questions from voters and from officially registered media.Apart from these broadcasts, each candidate could send in commercials up to five minutes, which were broadcast on weekdays between 1 and 25 August, three times daily (8:00, 18:00 and 20:00).
The order in which the broadcasts of candidates appeared was determined by draw, and was as follows:
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Order of commercials | |
| Week 1 (1 - 5 August) | Khajimba | Shamba | Ankvab | Khajimba - Ankvab - Shamba | ||
| Week 2 (8 - 12 August) | Khajimba | Shamba | Ankvab | Khajimba - Shamba - Ankvab | ||
| Week 3 (15 - 19 August) | Logua | Jergenia | Adzynba | Ankvab - Khajimba - Shamba | ||
| Week 4 (22 - 26 August) | Shamba | Khajimba | Ankvab | Ankvab - Shamba - Khajimba | ||
Election
The CEC decided that in order to reduce costs and simplify the organisation of the election, there would be no separate polling stations and precinct election commissions for military units. Instead, it sent a letter to the Ministry of Defence requesting that soldiers should receive leave ten days before the election, allowing them to collect absentee ballots and thus vote in a polling station of their choosing.Results
According to the Abkhazian electoral commission, preliminary results showed a 54.86% first round victory for Ankvab over Shamba (21.04%) and Khajimba (19.83%).The official results, released on 27 August, showed only small differences, and Alexander Ankvab was elected with 54.90% of the vote. He is to be sworn in on 26 September.
Opinion polling
| Date | Source | Sergei Shamba | Alexander Ankvab | Raul Khajimba |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-12 July 2011 | Dobrososedstvo | 30,1% | 26,1% | 8,0% |