Abkhazian parliamentary election, 1996

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Parliamentary elections were held in Abkhazia on 23 November 1996, with a second round on 7 December. [1] There was also a simultaneous referendum held amongst Abkhazian refugees.

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

The election was held in order to replace the former Abkhaz Autonomous Republic's Supreme Soviet which had split during the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict in 1993 with 28 deputies continuing in Abkhazia as the Abkhaz Supreme Soviet. The remaining 24 formed a parliament in exile in Georgia. [2]

Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic autonomous soviet socialist republic of a union republic of the Soviet Union

The Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, abbreviated as Abkhaz ASSR, was an autonomous republic of the Soviet Union within the Georgian SSR. It came into existence in February 1931, when the Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia, originally created in March 1921, was transformed to the status of Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Georgian SSR.

The Supreme Soviet was the common name for the legislative bodies (parliaments) of the Soviet socialist republics (SSR) in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). These soviets were modeled after the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, established in 1938, and were nearly identical. Soviet-approved delegates to the Supreme Soviets were periodically elected in unopposed elections. The first free or semi-free elections took place during perestroika in late 1980s. The soviets until then were largely rubber-stamp institutions, approving decisions handed to them by the Communist Party of the USSR or of each SSR. The soviets met infrequently and elected the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, a permanent body, to act on their behalf while the soviet was not in session. Under the 1936 and 1977 Soviet Constitutions the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet served as the collective head of state of the USSR. The Supreme Soviets also elected the Council of Ministers, an executive body. After the dissolution of the USSR in late December 1991, most of these soviets became the legislatures of independent countries.

However, international organisations and major countries declared that the election would be invalid. [2]

Electoral system

The elections were held using the two-round system; candidates had to receive over 50% of the vote in the first round to be elected, or a second round would be held. Voters received a list of candidates and crossed off all the names but that of the candidate they preferred. [3]

Two-round system voting system used to elect a single winner where a second round of voting is used if no candidate wins an absolute majority in the first round

The two-round system is a voting method used to elect a single winner, where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate. However, if no candidate receives the required number of votes, then those candidates having less than a certain proportion of the votes, or all but the two candidates receiving the most votes, are eliminated, and a second round of voting is held.

Campaign

The number of registered candidates contesting the 35 seats was initially reported to be 85, three of whom Georgian, [4] and later 78, two of whom were Georgian. [5] All candidates ran as independents. [6]

Results

Of the 35 seats, 30 were filled in the first round of voting. The 30 MPs elected in the first round included 19 Abkhazians, four Russians, three Armenians, two Georgians, one Greek and one Kabardian. [6] Voter turnout was reported to be 81%.

Abkhazians or the Abkhaz are a Northwest Caucasian ethnic group, mainly living in Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. A large Abkhaz diaspora population resides in Turkey, the origins of which lie in the population movements from the Caucasus in the late 19th century. Many Abkhaz also live in other parts of the former Soviet Union, particularly in Russia and Ukraine.

Russians are a nation and an East Slavic ethnic group native to European Russia in Eastern Europe. Outside Russia, notable minorities exist in other former Soviet states such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ukraine and the Baltic states. A large Russian diaspora also exists all over the world, with notable numbers in the United States, Germany, Brazil, and Canada.

Armenians ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland

Armenians are an ethnic group native to the Armenian Highlands.

Referendum

In response to the elections, Georgia organised a referendum among refugees from Abkhazia, with polling stations opened in Moscow, St Petersburg, Podolsk and Sochi in Russia, Kiev in Ukraine, Trabzon in Turkey, Minsk in Belarus, Yerevan in Armenia, as well as in Greece and Israel. [3] The Georgian government said that over 99% of refugees agreed that elections in Abkhazia were invalid until refugees were allowed to return and its political status as part of Georgia was agreed. [2] [3]

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References

  1. ↑ Security Council extends mission in Georgia until 31 July United Nations Security Council, 30 January 1997
  2. 1 2 3 "Abkhaz election offset by refugee referendum". The Jamestown Foundation . December 2006. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  3. 1 2 3 "The elections in Abkhazia and the prospects for peace" (PDF). Parliamentary Human Rights Group. 1996-11-26. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  4. ↑ Razorenova, Marina (October 1996). "ГРУЗИЯ в сентябре-октябре 1996 года". Institute for Humanities and Political Studies. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  5. ↑ Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh to Hold Elections Reuters, 21 November 1996
  6. 1 2 Abkhazia Freedom House
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