On February 15, presidential elections will be held in Abkhazia, in which candidates supporting Russia and Turkey will participate.
Author: Dzhambulat Sardalov, an expert on politics, religion, and terrorism (Chechnya, Russia), especially for "Sangar"
The unrest in this Caucasian republic led to the fact that President Bzhania Aslan Georgievich was forced to leave his post. The media reports that the presidential elections in Abkhazia will be early, and according to the decision of the Abkhaz parliament, will be held on February 15, 2025, since on November 19, 2024, Aslan Bzhania resigned after mass protests due to the investment agreement with the Russian Federation. The reason for those events was that the opposition "inflated" the topic of Russian investments in Abkhazia. Thus, the necessary finances for the development of the republic were presented to the people as Moscow's desire to enslave the Abkhazians. The absurdity of this thesis is obvious, as are the attempts of external forces to establish their regime of power and favor their financial circles. On the other side is the same Turkey, and Georgia, which is struggling to get away from the influence of Western Europe, not losing hope for full control.
It should be noted that the investment agreement itself assumed preferences for Russian businesses, in particular, exempting them from paying taxes and customs duties for 8 years. The opposition instilled in the minds of ordinary people that it undermines the economic sovereignty of Abkhazia, and local businesses will not be able to compete with the Russians. Abkhazia, with its protracted problems, expressing the inability to restore and develop the tourism or agricultural processing sector to the required extent, has come to sad consequences. After the 1992 conflict with Georgia, and to this day, the best places of the once flourishing tourism sector remain desolate or in ruins. Abkhazian business, which grew up on the Russian field, is also in no hurry to restore their native places. The views of some Abkhaz politicians are directed either to Turkey or Western Europe. In the situation in which this small republic finds itself, it is unlikely to obtain more favorable conditions for itself in contact with the above-mentioned parties. Tax benefits are an important point in attracting investment, and most importantly, the creation of jobs. Namely, jobs are as necessary as air for Abkhazia, and not sowing a "storm in a teacup" with the ingredient "Russian threat".
Russia, in fact, out of humanitarian motives, helped this young republic not only to survive as a separate territorial unit but also to get on its feet over all these years. The Abkhazians are a people who remember good deeds, and here it is important for them not to succumb to overseas promises ... For outsiders, they are nothing more than a business, for Russia, a neighbor. And not only interstate relations but also the military-political situation in this part of Transcaucasia depend on the state of affairs of the neighbor. As expected, the election campaign showed the state of the political field, where various candidates expressed their readiness to become "plowmen" for the people of Abkhazia.
Badri Gunba, a presidential candidate, for example, pursues a clear and moderate policy. Further data from a poll among voters shows that he can ensure the stability and development of Abkhazia.
Adgur Ardzinba, the leader of the opposition, does not even hide his close contacts with criminals, which cannot be a person whose activities are aimed at improving the already heated domestic political situation. Crime in power, if elected, will only bring more problems and worsening relations with the Russian Federation.
Oleg Bartsits, trade representative of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Russian Federation until 2024, a man who received an excellent education in the USSR, his activities are aimed at strengthening relations with Russia first and foremost.
Levan Mikaa, another candidate, who was deprived of Russian citizenship, openly works in the interests of Turkey. There is also Eshsou Kakalia, a member of the Abkhaz parliament who maintains close contacts with the criminal world. The picture of Abkhazian political life becomes clear, given the good rating of some and the high interest of the voters in finally "ending" the confusion at the top of the republican government. The pre-election passions are reflected in the following data.
The North Ossetian information portal "15th Region" reports that according to the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM), Badra Gunba is confidently leading in the election race, he gained 32% of the votes. This is over twice as much as his closest competitor Adgur Ardzinba - 15%. Candidate ratings: Badra Gunba - 32%, Adgur Ardzinba - 15%, Oleg Bartsits - 7%. Against all - 4%.
The high level of interest in voting in these elections is evidenced by the figure - 69% of voters are ready to vote. At the same time, the absolute majority of citizens - 91% have a positive attitude towards Russia, which makes the efforts of part of the opposition to create a negative reaction among the residents of Abkhazia towards Russia groundless.
