Abkhazian local elections, 2011

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On 12 February 2011, Abkhazia held local elections for the 5th convocations of its local assemblies. [apress 1]

Abkhazia autonomous region in Georgia and breakaway republic which is not recognized internationally

Abkhazia, officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a de facto and partially recognized republic on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, south of the Greater Caucasus mountains, in northwestern Georgia. It covers 8,660 square kilometres (3,340 sq mi) and has a population of around 240,000. Its capital is Sukhumi and it is recognised as a state by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria. While Georgia lacks control over Abkhazia, the Georgian government and most United Nations member states consider Abkhazia legally part of Georgia, whose constitution designates the area as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

Contents

Background and Abkhazia-wide figures

Candidates could be nominated between 23 January and 2 February by interest groups or by officially registered political parties. However, the governing United Abkhazia was the only party to make use this possibility on a large scale, and none of the opposition parties did so. In total, a number of 353 candidates competed in 186 single-seat constituencies. [knot 1] [knot 2] All heads of administration except for Gudauta District Head Daur Vozba were re-elected to their assembly, and re-appointed by President Sergei Bagapsh on 23 February. [knot 3] [apress 2]

United Abkhazia political party

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.

Sergei Bagapsh Abkhazian politician

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. He died on 29 May 2011, at the age of 62, from complications of surgery.

City of Sukhumi

Turn-out

The voter lists numbered a total of 30,712 people, of which 26,957 were on the principal voter list and 3755 on additional lists. Of these latter ones, 452 belonged to military units and 73 to hospital units. In total, 11,775 people voted, i.e. 38.3%. [apress 3]

Candidates

In Sukhumi, the election was contested by 85 candidates in 26 single-seat constituencies. Shortly before election day, 3 people had withdrawn their candidacy. [apress 4] Among the candidates were the incumbent Mayor of Sukhumi Alias Labakhua, as well as 14 sitting members of the city council. Of these, 5 were re-elected (including Labakhua). [apress 5] [apress 3] None of the 12 female candidates was elected. [knot 3] United Abkhazia had nominated candidates in all 26 constituencies, 16 of which won. [knot 4] The Communist Party and the Sukhumi Military School had nominated 2 and 1 candidates, respectively, all of which lost. The remaining candidates had been nominated by 64 initiative groups, 10 of these independent candidates won a seat (including Daut Nanba after the re-run in constituency #1). [knot 1]

Alias Mikhailovich Labakhua was Mayor of Sukhumi from 15 May 2007 until 22 October 2014

The 4th convocation of the Sukhumi City Council held office from 10 March 2007 until March 2011.

Communist Party of Abkhazia political party

The Communist Party of Abkhazia (CPA) is a political party in Abkhazia, internationally recognized part of Georgia. The party leader is Lev Shamba.

Rerun in constituency #1

On 16 February, the Sukhumi election commission ordered a rerun in constituency #1, because there had been a soldier who had voted at 2 constituencies, and another voter from another constituency. [apress 6] Preliminary results had indicated a victory for independent candidate Daut Nanba. [apress 5] Repeated elections were scheduled for 16 April. Candidates had to be nominated between 7 and 27 March and registered between 28 March and 7 April. [apress 7] Only Daut Nanba, Guram Berulava and Aslan Sangulia participated the second time around, Nanba again won. [apress 8]

Overview of the candidates and elected deputies

The following table presents an overview of all the candidates in the 26 constituencies: [apress 9] [apress 3]

Candidates in the 2011 Sukhumi City Council election
by constituency (vertical) and candidacy (horizontal)
slanted = incumbent, bold = winner, green = nominated by United Abkhazia, red = nominated by the Communist Party, blue = nominated by Sukhumi Military School
#1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.
1Aslan SanguliaDaut NanbaGuram BerulavaDmitrii AdleibaDmitrii Gabelia
2Nina StorozhenkoLasha Kiut
3Aslan AjapuaAstamur LoguaAleksandr Antinov
4Artur LakyrbaApollon LatariaEduard Keshanidi
5Kan KvarchiaAdamur Lagvilava
6Erik RshtuniGivi Gabnia
7Teia ArshbaKondrat Samsonia
8Merab ChaligavaEnver ChamaguaDmitrii Kolbaia
9Astanda AvidzbaAdamyr MukbaIrina KvarchiaJoni KvasiaMizan ZantariaStela SadzbaAlias Golandzia
10Jansukh ChamaguaRudolf ChaniaKonstantin Pilia
11Adgur AgrbaIzida ChaniaAmiran Kakalia
12Aleksei LomiaAida ShulumbaRoman Adleiba
13Raul BebiaBeslan KarchavaArda Dgebia
14Vadim KvachakhiaGeorgii ManakaMudar AmichbTeimuraz Anua
15Eduard KalenjyanValeri BganbaAstamur Adleiba
16Dmitri DelbaGuram BarganjiaEnrik Leiba
17Levon GalustyanBeslan Kvitsinia
18Roland AdleibaBeslan ShinkubaDenis Arshba
19Khrips JopuaIzolda TurkiaMikhail Gabelia
20Arnold MinaiaArutyun AlakortsyanArtur ChurilovNadezhda Khonelia
21Aslan JinjoliaVitalii Bganba Alias Labakhua
22Daur FerizbaAlmaskhan EbzhnouDmitrii Shlarba
23Valerian AslanjiaNodar GabliaMizan ZukhbaRoman GabeliaNarsou Salakaia
24Saim AvidzbaVitalii Chitanava
25Alkhas JeliaAleksandr MkrtchyanAidar KvitsiniaRolan TarbaRoman TskuaAstanda KhashbaGennadii ArdzinbaMuza Murgvliani
26Almas JopuaEliso TsishbaKama AnuaRonald Gamgia

On 21 February, the new city assembly held its first session, in which it had to elect a successor for its outgoing Chairman Adgur Amichba, who had not run again in the assembly election. [apress 10] [knot 1] However, the two candidates Amiran Kakalia and Konstantin Pilia tied with 12 votes, with 1 invalid vote. [apress 10] The session was then adjourned until 23 February. In the second vote Amiran Kakalia beat Konstantin Pilia by 15-to-9 (with 1 invalid vote). Beslan Shinkuba was subsequently elected Deputy Chairman and former Mayor Astamur Adleiba Secretary. [apress 11]

Gali District

In the Gali District, 26 candidates competed in 26 constituencies, all of whom were nominated by United Abkhazia. Only Abkhazian citizens --- a minority in the Gali District --- were allowed to vote. According to District Head Beslan Arshba, turn-out was around 80% in the villages, and up to 70% in Gali town. [knot 3]

Gulripsh District

In the Gulripsh District, 22 candidates competed in 16 constituencies. The Upper Kodori Valley participated for the first time in local Abkhazian elections --- the area had been under Georgian control until it was conquered during the August 2008 War. Since most of the remaining Svan population does not possess Abkhazian citizenship, there were only 51 eligible voters, 39 of whom actually voted at the polling station in the secondary school of Azhara. [knot 3] The new Assembly met for the first time on 15 February, when it elected Aslan Baratelia its Chairman, Andronik Kondakchyan its Deputy Chairman and David Gabnya its Secretary. [apress 12]

Gagra District

In the Gagra District, 61 candidates competed for 25 single-seat constituencies. 22 of the candidates were nominated by United Abkhazia. [apress 13]

Pitsunda

In Pitsunda, Mayor Beslan Ardzinba and six other incumbent deputies of the Assembly stood for re-election. The winning candidates were Beslan Ardzinba, Badra Avidzba, Olga Grigorenko, Chengiz Bigvava, Georgi Zardania, Gennadi Cherkezia, Gennadi Mikanba, Damia Kokoskeria and Inessa Dzkuia. [p-ab 1] On 14 February, during the first session of the new convocation, Damir Kokoskeria was elected Chairman of the Assembly over Gennadi Cherkezia, by a one-vote difference. [p-ab 2]

Gudauta District

In the Gudauta District 59 candidates competed in 29 constituencies. [knot 2] Out of 20760 eligible voters, 9542 turned out to vote (45.96%). 17 incumbent deputies were re-elected. Of these, 13 were elected for the second time, 2 for the third time and 2 for the fourth time. [ra 1] District Head Daur Vozba failed to be re-elected by 92 votes. [knot 3] President Sergei Bagapsh appointed Valerii Malia as his successor on 23 February. [apress 2] On 17 February, during its first session, the Gudauta District assembly elected Roman Bazba its chairman, with 22 out of 29 votes, and Fyodor Sakania its Deputy Chairman. [apress 14]

Sukhumi, Ochamchira and Tquarchal Districts

In the Sukhumi District 18 in 15 constituencies, in the Ochamchira District 55 in 32 constituencies and in the Tquarchal District 27 in 17 constituencies. [knot 2]

Criticism

The Abkhazian opposition claimed that a number of violations had taken place during the election. According to Raul Khajimba, a number of people had voted multiple times at different polling stations. [knot 4] The elections were also criticised by representatives of several NGOs. Some of the issues singled out included the low turn-out, the lack of a contest in the Gali District and the fact that in one of the polling stations in Sukhumi, a group of soldiers had come in and closed the election. They also expressed the fear that the new councils would not reflect a great diversity of opinions, a situation not conducive to genuine political debate. [knot 5]

The Georgian government condemned the elections on 14 February 2011. [civil 1]

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Sergei Shamba is a senior politician from Abkhazia. He is currently a member of the People's Assembly of Abkhazia and Chairman of United Abkhazia. He was Prime Minister of Abkhazia under President Sergei Bagapsh from 13 February 2010 until 27 September 2011. Between 1997 and 2010 he had been Minister for Foreign Affairs under both Bagapsh and his predecessor Vladislav Ardzinba, with only a half-year interruption in 2004. Shamba has twice unsuccessfully participated in Presidential elections, in 2004 and 2011. He has been a staunch proponent for dialogue between Abkhazia and Georgia.

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References

Apsnypress

  1. "Local elections were held normally, in a quiet atmosphere - Sergey Bagapsh". Apsnypress . 16 February 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  2. 1 2 Президент Сергей Багапш подписал Указы о назначении глав администрации городов и районов республики. Apsnypress (in Russian). 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "{title}" Сухумская городская избирательная комиссия зарегистрировала депутатов Городского собрания. Apsnypress (in Russian). 16 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  4. "12 февраля в Абхазии пройдут выборы в органы местного самоуправления". Apsnypress (in Russian). 11 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  5. 1 2 "12 февраля состоялись выборы в органы местного самоуправления Абхазии". Apsnypress (in Russian). 14 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  6. "{title}" В Сухумском избирательном округе №1 состоятся повторные выборы. Apsnypress (in Russian). 16 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  7. "{title}" Повторные выборы в избирательном округе №1 города Сухум состоятся 16 апреля. Apsnypress (in Russian). 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  8. "{title}" Даут Нанба стал депутатом Сухумского Городского собрания.. Apsnypress (in Russian). 18 April 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  9. На 26 мест в сухумское городское собрание претендуют 88 кандидатов.. Apsnypress (in Russian). 28 January 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  10. 1 2 "{title}" Выборы председателя Сухумского Городского собрания перенесены на 23 февраля. Apsnypress (in Russian). 21 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  11. "{title}" Амиран Какалия избран председателем Городского собрания Сухума. Apsnypress (in Russian). 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  12. Аслан Барателия избран председателем Собрания Гульрипшского района. Apsnypress (in Russian). 15 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  13. "12 февраля во всех районах Абхазии пройдут выборы в органы местного самоуправления". Apsnypress (in Russian). 26 January 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  14. "{title}" Роман Базба избран председателем Гудаутского Районного собрания. Apsnypress (in Russian). 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.

Caucasian Knot

  1. 1 2 3 В Абхазии на 26 мест в Сухумское городское собрание претендуют 88 кандидатов. Caucasian Knot (in Russian). 29 January 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Kuchuberia, Anzhela (12 February 2011). Сегодня в Абхазии пройдут выборы в органы местного самоуправления. Caucasian Knot (in Russian). Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Kuchuberia, Anzhela (14 February 2011). В Абхазии выборы признаны состоявшимися. Caucasian Knot (in Russian). Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  4. 1 2 В Абхазии прошли выборы в местное самоуправление. Caucasian Knot (in Russian). 13 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  5. Kuchuberia, Anzhela (14 February 2011). В Абхазии ряд НПО недовольны итогами выборов в органы местного самоуправления. Caucasian Knot (in Russian). Retrieved 25 February 2011.

City Administration of Pitsunda

  1. "Подведены итоги выборов в народное собрание г.Пицунда". City Administration of Pitsunda. 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  2. "В Администрации города Пицунды прошло первое заседание Народного собрания". City Administration of Pitsunda. 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2012.

Civil Georgia

  1. "Tbilisi Condemns Abkhaz Local Elections". Civil Georgia . 14 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.

Respublika Abxaziya

  1. Gabria, Marina (16 February 2011). В Гудаутском районе – 29 депутатов. Respublika Abxaziya (in Russian). Retrieved 13 March 2011.