2012 Abkhazian parliamentary election

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Politics of Abkhazia
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Valery Kvarchia
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Parliamentary elections were held in Abkhazia on 10 March 2012, with a second round on 24 March. Voters elected the fifth convocation of the People's Assembly.

Background[edit]

This was the first parliamentary election since the August 2008 war and the subsequent diplomatic recognition of Abkhazia by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Venezuela, Vanuatu and Tuvalu.

On 22 February, President Alexander Ankvab survived an assassination attempt as his motorcade came under attack on the road from Gudauta to Sukhumi. Though he survived, two bodyguards were killed. Ankvab blamed "mafia, criminal groups" and the "political circles" around them for the attack. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that it was an attempt to destabilise the country's political situation prior to the election.[1]

Parties[edit]

Candidates could be nominated by initiative groups and by officially registered political parties (in at most a third of all constituencies, that is 11).[2]

Candidates[edit]

In total, 156 candidates were nominated. 35 candidates were nominated by a political party and 126 by an initiative group[3] (with some overlap). Of the candidates nominated by a political party, 11 were nominated by United Abkhazia,[2] 11 by the Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia,[4] 7 by the Communist Party[5] and 6 by the Party for the Economic Development of Abkhazia.[6] The Central Electoral Commission approved the registration of 151 candidates. Of these, 3 withdrew their candidacy before election day.[7][8] Of the remaining 148 candidates, 125 were ethnically Abkhaz, nine Armenian, eight Russian, two Greek, two Georgian, one Ossetian and one Kabardin. 16 were female.[9]

Campaign[edit]

On 6 March, the Russian Community of the Republic of Abkhazia called upon voters in constituencies 7, 11 and 23 to vote for the Russian candidates Natalya Kayun, Andrei Kulikov and Viktor Vasilev, the first two of which had previously been nominated by United Abkhazia.[10]

Monitors[edit]

There were 46[11]-100 international observers from nine countries.[12] According to the CEC, the monitors would be from Russia (from governmental and non-governmental organisations), the Commonwealth of Independent States, South Ossetia, Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh. Other states whose monitors were invited but had not confirmed attendance are: Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Tuvalu. Georgia steadfastly refused to observe the election on the premise that they claim Abkhazia is under "de facto Russian occupation" and that Georgian refugees who fled Abkhazia (by some accounts up to 50% of the population) are ineligible to vote.[9]

Results[edit]

There were 174 pollings stations.[12] First round turnout was 44.5%.[1] Only 13 constituencies achieved a majority to choose an MP; the other 22 constituencies would face a run-off.[13]

Second round turnout was 46.21% in 20 constituencies. Of the 40 candidates for the 20 seats in the second round three of nine incumbents held on to their seats. Amongst the 20 members were three MPs from People’s Unity Forum of Abkhazia, two from United Abkhazia the 15 from civic initiative groups. The result will be finalised when approved by a court.[14] Amongst minority representatives, Vagharshak Kosyan and Robert Yalyan were joined by journalist Levon Galustyan to have a total of three Armenian MPs, according to Khachik Minosyan, the Chairman of the Union of Abkhazia Armenians. Galustyan said the election was flawless and praised his fellow Armenian challenger from district 20.[15]

The following table presents an overview of all the candidates,[16] the votes they received in the first round,[17] the second round run-off winners[18] and the reruns.[19][20]

Constituency Candidate Party First round Second round Notes
Votes % Votes %
1 Roland Gamgia Independent 648 35.14 Election annulled
Talikh Khvatish United Abkhazia 454 24.62
Daur Achugba Independent 338 18.33
Aidar Kvitsinia Independent 195 10.57
Yekaterina Glazkova Party for the Economic Development of Abkhazia 115 6.24
Eduard Keshanidi Independent 60 3.25
Pavel Bganba Independent 34 1.84
2 Aslan Kobakhia Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia 746 27.09 No data Elected
Akhra Abukhba Independent 547 19.86 No data
Fazylbei Avidzba Independent 458 16.63
Vakhtang Pipia United Abkhazia 451 16.38
Temur Tabagua Independent 301 10.93
Akhra Aristava Independent 153 5.56
Dmitri Shlarba Independent 98 3.56
3 Beslan Tsvinaria Independent 488 25.40 No data Elected
Rita Lolua Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia 424 22.07 No data Unseated
Satbei Kvitsinia Independent 328 17.07
Vianor Tuzhba Independent 176 9.16
Ilia Gamisonia Independent 126 6.56
Mukhamed Bli Independent 90 4.69
Sergei Arshba Independent 86 4.48
Arkadi Jinjia Independent 85 4.42
Anatoli Pilia Communist Party of Abkhazia 74 3.85
Irina Mikvabia Independent 44 2.29
4 Amiran Lagvilava Independent 502 25.34 No data
Valeri Agrba Independent 393 19.84 No data Elected
Vianor Ashba Independent 350 17.67
Lasha Sakania Independent 263 13.28
Batal Kobakhia Independent 176 8.88 Unseated
Leila Tania Independent 164 8.28
Ivan Tarba Independent 133 6.71
5 Akhra Bzhania Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia 866 43.08 No data Elected
Valeri Ardzinba Independent 469 23.33 No data
Iakub Lakoba Independent 222 11.04
Daur Tarba United Abkhazia 193 9.60
Andrei Tuzhba Communist Party of Abkhazia 136 6.77
Mzia Beia Independent 124 6.17
6 Artur Mikvabia Independent 635 31.31 No data Elected
Irina Agrba Independent 574 28.30 No data Unseated
Astamur Adleiba Independent 552 27.22
Nadir Bitiev Independent 185 9.12
Marina Gumba Independent 82 4.04
7 Zaur Iazychba Independent 706 44.60 No data Elected
Ruslan Kharabua Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia 395 24.95 No data
Astamur Kakalia Independent 224 14.15
David Chagava Independent 115 7.26
Natalia Kaiun United Abkhazia 79 4.99
Pavel Leshchuk Independent 64 4.04 Unseated
8 Beslan Gubaz Independent 883 40.71 No data Elected
Dona Malia Independent 613 28.26 No data
Almasbei Kchach Party for the Economic Development of Abkhazia 556 25.63
Stanislav Aiba Independent 117 5.39
9 Valeri Bganba Independent 1,029 54.59 Reelected
Astan Agrba Independent 856 45.41
10 Anzor Kokoskeria Independent 815 41.20 No data Elected
Tamaz Khetsia United Abkhazia 636 32.15 No data
Nodari Kvitsinia Independent 368 18.60
Shota Bagatelia Communist Party of Abkhazia 159 8.04
11 Beslan Bartsits Independent 566 22.18 No data Elected
Vitali Azhiba Independent 553 21.67 No data
Gennadi Sichinava Independent 517 20.26
Vadim Smyr Independent 471 18.46
Aleksei Romanenko Independent 141 5.53
Andrei Kulikov United Abkhazia 109 4.27
Renad Benia Independent 98 3.84
Tatiana Pavlova Communist Party of Abkhazia 52 2.04
Leonti Bazba Independent 45 1.76
12 Vagarshak Kosyan Independent 1,276 60.50 Elected
Valeri Mayromyan Independent 726 34.42 Unseated
Aram Kosyan Independent 107 5.07
13 Georgi Agrba Independent 611 39.42 No data Elected
Astamur Aiba Independent 477 30.77 No data
Kherson Dashelia Independent 357 23.03
Valeri Bartsyts Communist Party of Abkhazia 88 5.68
Beslan Dbar Independent 17 1.10
14 Guram Barganjia United Abkhazia 912 56.51 Elected
Aleksei Tania Independent 702 43.49
15 Mikhail Sangulia Independent 865 48.06 No data Reelected
Aslan Lakoba Independent 637 35.39 No data
Remzik Chirikbaia Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia 298 16.56
16 Zaur Avidzba Independent 867 34.72 No data
Leonid Chamagua Independent 666 26.67 No data Elected
Anri Jergenia Independent 555 22.23
Viacheslav Ardzinba Independent 409 16.38
17 Dmitri Gunba United Abkhazia 1,010 49.95 No data Elected
Givi Gabnia Party for the Economic Development of Abkhazia 788 38.97 No data
Lev Shamba Communist Party of Abkhazia 224 11.08 Unseated
18 Akhra Pachulia Independent 799 52.84 Elected
Vitali Smyr Independent 713 47.16 Unseated
19 Fazlibei Avidzba Independent 620 58.33 Elected
Zhuzhuna Bigvava Independent 443 41.67
20 Galust Trapizonyan Independent 654 42.08 No data
Levon Galustyan Independent 651 41.89 No data Elected
Farat Mikaelyan United Abkhazia 136 8.75
Valeri Bganba Independent 113 7.27
21 Aida Ashuba Independent — — Election annulled
Valeri Kvarchia Independent — —
Diana Pilia Independent — —
Dmitri Sevastidi Independent — —
22 Robert Yaylyan Independent 711 52.55 Elected
Sergei Matosyan Independent 360 26.61 Unseated
Albert Kapikyan Independent 282 20.84
23 Said Kharazia Independent 1,041 51.51 Elected
Aleksandr Studenikin Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia 379 18.75
David Gabnia Independent 307 15.19
Viktor Vasilev Independent 294 14.55 Unseated
24 Adgur Kharazia Independent 528 37.90 No data Reelected
Aleksei Lataria Independent 504 36.18 No data
Ziulfi Achuzba Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia 361 25.92
25 Daur Arshba Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia 778 36.92 No data Unseated. From district Nº 30
Yuri Zukhba Independent 743 35.26 No data Reelected
Zaur Zarandia United Abkhazia 586 27.81
26 Temur Logua Independent 839 47.11 No data Elected
Khrips Jopua Independent 475 26.67 No data
Daur Tsvizhba Independent 289 16.23
Zaur Adleiba Independent 178 9.99 Unseated
27 Nugzar Ashuba Independent 449 29.16 No data Unseated
Appolon Gurgulia Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia 384 24.94 No data Elected
Almas Kvaratskhelia Independent 382 24.81
Ramiz Tabagua Independent 276 17.92
Klara Sakania Independent 49 3.18
28 Temur Kvitsinia Independent 737 55.46 Reelected
Adgur Kakoba Independent 236 17.76
Tamaz Gogia Independent 205 15.43
Andrei Anua Independent 151 11.36
29 Otar Tsvizhba Independent 1,631 68.70 Elected
Grigori Latsuzhba Independent 520 21.90
Aleksandr Adleiba Independent 223 9.39
30 Raul Khajimba Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia 1,311 74.74 Elected
Daur Ferizba Independent 331 18.87
Anzor Argun Party for the Economic Development of Abkhazia 112 6.39
31 Kan Kvarchia Independent 457 42.28 No data Elected
Aleksandr Chengelia Independent 271 25.07 No data Unseated
Alkhaz Manargia Independent 242 22.39
Tengiz Malandzia Independent 111 10.27
32 Emma Gamisonia Independent 1,621 67.68 Reelected
Irakli Bzhinava Independent 412 17.20
Vadim Kvachakhia Independent 174 7.27
Beslan Bagatelia Independent 157 6.56
Joni Gularia Independent 31 1.29
33 Akhra Kvekveskiri United Abkhazia 808 47.47 No data Elected
Ruslan Kishmaria Independent 520 30.55 No data
Avtandil Chkadua Independent 374 21.97
34 Nodik Kvitsinia Independent 1,050 62.09 Elected
Sergei Berulava Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia 379 22.41
Ameran Akhsalba Party for the Economic Development of Abkhazia 262 15.49
35 Bezhan Ubiria Independent 1,105 74.76 Reelected
Nato Butbaia Party for the Economic Development of Abkhazia 373 25.24

Aftermath[edit]

Rerun in constituency no. 1[edit]

The first round of the election in constituency no. 1 was declared invalid because the turnout had failed to surpass the threshold of 25%. On election day, the Constituency Election Commission originally declared that turnout had been 25.01%. However, after a complaint by two candidates that a mistake had been made in the calculation of the turnout, the Central Election Commission ordered the Constituency Election Commission to recheck the protocols. The corrected turnout was found to be 24.9%, invalidating the election.[21]

On 19 March the Central Election Commission announced that the rerun would be held on 6 May.[22] Four out of seven of the original candidates were nominated again: Daur Achugba, Roland Gamgia, Yekaterina Glazkova and Talikh Khvatish. They were joined by one new candidate, businessman Beslan Eshba.[23] All were successfully registered.[24][25] Eshba won the rerun with 1932 out of 3413 votes (56.61%), against 782 for Gamgia, 520 for Khvatysh, 47 for Achugba and 43 for Glazkova. Turnout was significantly higher than during the original election, at 44.94%.[19]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Beslan EshbaIndependent1,93258.12
Roland GamgiaIndependent78223.53
Talikh KhvatishIndependent52015.64
Daur AchugbaIndependent471.41
Yekaterina GlazkovaIndependent431.29
Total3,324100.00
Valid votes3,32497.39
Invalid/blank votes892.61
Total votes3,413100.00
Registered voters/turnout44.94%

Rerun in constituency no. 21[edit]

On 29 March, the Supreme Court of Abkhazia invalidated the election in constituency no. 21 and ordered a rerun. The original count had given Aida Ashuba a slim first round majority of 401 votes out of 795 (50.44%), but after a complaint by the campaign team of runner up Valeri Kvarchia, the election commission of precinct 1 held a recount. In the recount, 46 more ballots were found to be invalid, causing Ashuba's vote share to fall below 50% and making a second round run-off between Ashuba and Kvarchia necessary. Ashuba then issued a complaint with the Central Election Commission as his observers had not been present during the recount. The Central Election Commission agreed with the complaint and requested the precinct and constituency election commissions to uphold the original count. When the local election commission refused to comply, the Central Election Commission brought the matter to the Supreme Court.[26][27]

During the court proceedings it was established that contrary to election law, the ballot bag had not been sealed, and that during the recount, supporters of Kvarchia as well as Security Council and Interior Ministry officials had been present. The representative of the office of the Procecutor General argued that this constituted a breach of election law, that the irregularities in the transport and storage of election ballots meant that determining the correct election result was now impossible, and that both voting protocols should be declared invalid.[27]

The repeat election was set for 20 May, with the nomination period running from 31 March to 20 April and the registration period from 20 April to 10 May.[28] Both Aida Ashuba and Valeri Kvarchia were nominated again by initiative groups.[29] They were joined by Givi Adleiba, who had not originally participated.[30] All three candidates were successfully registered.[25][31] The rerun saw a much higher turnout than the original election of 1271 from a total of 1770 registered voters (71.8%). No candidate managed to score a first round victory in the repeat election as Kvarchia received 573 votes, Ashuba 502 and Adleiba 159 (37 votes being invalid).[20] In the second round on 4 June, Kvarchia defeated Ashuba with 679 votes against 623, out of a total of 1334 — there had been 1779 registered voters.[32]

CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Valeri KvarchiaIndependent57346.4367952.15
Aida AshubaIndependent50240.6862347.85
Givi AdleibaIndependent15912.88
Total1,234100.001,302100.00
Valid votes1,23497.091,30297.60
Invalid/blank votes372.91322.40
Total votes1,271100.001,334100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,77071.811,77974.99

Reactions[edit]

The head of the Central Election Commission, Batal Tabagua, said that since voter turnout exceeded the 25% threshold the election was declared valid.[12] He also added the election was "calm and normal."[1] The CEC spokesman added that "there weren’t observed any violations that could affect the people’s free will."[13] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to claims of the election being "illegitimate" by NATO, the U.S. Department of State and its embassy in Georgia, the EU delegation to Georgia, PACE co-reporters on Georgia and the Foreign Ministries of Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Azerbaijan as them having "not see[n] fit to support their conclusions by any legal or factual evidence. Such conclusions could have been made only from direct observation of preparation and conduct of voting in the elections to the People's Assembly of the Republic of Abkhazia. However, none of the above-mentioned countries and organisations sent their observers here, though the Central Election Commission of Abkhazia would have definitely provided them everything necessary for quality monitoring of the voting process."[33] It also added that all the observers, including from the UN-member states of Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Tuvalu, as well as the European parliament and international NGOs confirmed the election was in line with international democratic standards and that "people of Abkhazia recognised the legitimacy of voting procedures in their state long ago."[34]

  •  Georgia - Georgia[who?] called the election "illegitimate" under their claim that Abkhazia was under Russian "occupation" after the 2008 Russia Georgia war.[13]
    • A statement from the Tbilisi, Georgia-based government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia read: "Occupied Abkhazia is not a subject under international law. Therefore, elections held there can’t be regarded in the light of international law." Levan Tevzaia, a representative of the organisation said: "The de facto parliamentary elections are under way in an occupied region of Georgia, from where the absolute majority of the population is displaced; hence, these so-called elections do not have a legal framework. It is an absolute fiction. The region is actually ruled by Russia."[11]
  •  Russia - Sergei Markov, a member of the Public Chamber said that the election should give Abkhazia a legitimate parliament so as the country's problems. He added that "a democratic society is developing in Abkhazia. The republic is the most democratic state in the Caucasus and can set the pattern for Georgia."[12]
  •  United States - The embassy in Georgia said it does not recognise the election.[35]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "The Messenger - First round of Abkhaz parliamentary elections complete".
  2. ^ a b ""Единая Абхазия" выдвинула своих кандидатов в депутаты парламента". Apsnypress. 27 January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Список выдвинутых инициативными группами кандидатов в депутаты Народного Собрания - Парламента Республики Абхазия". Apsnypress. 6 February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Форум народного единства Абхазии» выдвинул 11 кандидатов в депутаты парламента". Apsnypress. 31 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  5. ^ "За 35 мест в парламенте намерены бороться 149 человек". Apsnypress. 3 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
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  7. ^ "Султан Кация отказался баллотироваться в депутаты парламента по избирательному округу №28". Apsnypress. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
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  9. ^ a b "Q&A: Separatist Abkhazia's parliamentary election". BBC News. 8 March 2012.
  10. ^ ""Русская община РА" призывает избирателей проголосовать за её представителей Наталью Каюн, Виктора Васильева и Андрея Куликова". Apsnypress. 6 March 2012. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Annual report by Amnesty International criticises Georgia's human rights record". 24 February 2016.
  12. ^ a b c d http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/362886.html [dead link]
  13. ^ a b c "Abkhazia: Only 13 Legislative Seats Filled". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 12 March 2012.
  14. ^ "Second round in Abkhazian poll completed". 26 March 2012.
  15. ^ "Abkhazian parliament has third Armenian member". 4 July 2023.
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  17. ^ Предварительные итоги выборов депутатов Народного Собрания - Парламента Республики Абхазия. Apsnypress (in Russian). 11 March 2012. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Центризбирком объявил предварительные итоги повторного голосования по выборам депутатов парламента Абхазии". Apsnypress. 25 March 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  19. ^ a b "Беслан Эшба одержал победу на повторных выборах в Народное Собрание – Парламент по Сухумскому избирательному округу №1". Apsnypress. 7 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  20. ^ a b "Выборы депутата парламента по баслатскому избирательному округу №21 не выявили победителя". Apsnypress. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  21. ^ Sharia, Vitali (12 March 2012). "Первый станет последним". Echo of the Caucasus. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  22. ^ "6 мая состоятся повторные выборы депутата парламента ра по сухумскому избирательному округу №1". Apsnypress. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  23. ^ "На одно место в Сухумском избирательном округе №1 претендуют пять человек". Apsnypress. 24 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  24. ^ "В избирательном округе №1 баллотируются четыре кандидата в депутаты парламента". Apsnypress. 19 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  25. ^ a b "ЦИК зарегистрировал кандидатов в депутаты парламента по двум округам, где состоятся повторные выборы". Apsnypress. 26 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  26. ^ "Центризбирком направил в верховный суд РА заявление по ситуации в избирательном округе №21". Apsnypress. 14 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  27. ^ a b "В избирательном округе №21 состоятся повторные выборы". Apsnypress. 29 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  28. ^ "С 31 марта по 20 апреля производится выдвижение кандидатов в депутаты по избирательному округу №1". Apsnypress. 4 April 2012. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  29. ^ "Зарегистрированы две инициативные группы по выдвижению кандидатов в депутаты по избирательному округу №21". Apsnypress. 5 April 2012. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  30. ^ "ЦИК зарегистрировал инициативную группу по выдвижению кандидатом в депутаты Адлейба Гиви Родионовича". Apsnypress. 6 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  31. ^ "ЦИК зарегистрировал Аиду Ашуба кандидатом в депутаты парламента по избирательному округу №21". Apsnypress. 23 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  32. ^ "Валерий Кварчия вновь избран депутатом парламента". Apsnypress. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  33. ^ "News \ Statement of the MFA of Abkhazia on the Reaction of Some Countries and Organizations to the 2012 Parliamentary Elections in Abkhazia". Archived from the original on 2012-04-10. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  34. ^ "UNPO: Abkhazia: Statement on Reactions to 2012 Elections".
  35. ^ "U.S. Does not recognize 'elections' in Georgian separatist regions". 26 March 2012.
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