Post: | President |
Body: | the Republic of Abkhazia |
Flag: | Flag of the President of Abkhazia.svg |
Flagcaption: | Standard of the president of Abkhazia |
Flagborder: | yes |
Incumbent: | Aslan Bzhania |
Incumbentsince: | 23 April 2020 |
Residence: | Sukhumi |
Termlength: | 5 years |
Termlength Qualified: | Renewable once |
Formation: | 26 November 1994 |
First: | Vladislav Ardzinba |
Deputy: | Vice President of Abkhazia |
Website: | http://presidentofabkhazia.org/ |
The president of Abkhazia is the de facto head of state of the partially recognized Republic of Abkhazia, that is de jure part of Georgia. The position 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.
During Alexander Ankvab's presidency, Parliament decided to scrap from the Presidential oath the phrase:
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.[1]
On 18 August, the People's Assembly of Abkhazia additionally adopted a bill authored by Said Kharazia and was first proposed by him during the meeting on 16 July, adding the invocation[1] [2]
Abkhazian: Иа Анцәа Ду, суҳәоит Сыԥсадгьыли сыуаажәлари рымаҵ аураҿы амчи алшареи суҭарц!
— Almighty God, give me strength to serve country and people!
Portrait | Name | Position | Term of office | Political party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
1 | Valerian Kobakhia | Chairman of the Supreme Soviet | 25 August 1990 | 24 December 1990 | Communist Party of Abkhazia | ||
2 | Vladislav Ardzinba | 24 December 1990 | 23 July 1992 | Communist Party of Abkhazia | |||
Chairman of Parliament | 23 July 1992 | 26 November 1994 | Independent |
See main article: 2020 Abkhazian presidential election.