On 25 August the so called "presidential elections" in the Russian occupied region of Abkhazia were held. The de facto President of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba (23,85% of votes) will face off with Alkhas Kvitsinia (21.97%), the chairman of the main opposition party “Amtsakhara” in the second round on 8 september as none of the candidates passed the 50% threshold. Nine candidates in total ran for the presidency of Abkhazia.
According to Sputnik, more than 60 international observers, mostly from the countries that recognized Abkhazia, monitored the "election". “We saw that all presidential candidates have equal political opportunities. High turnout indicates that Abkhaz society has matured for the further development of all institutions. All conditions have been set up for the people, according to all European standards,” said Olga Kovitidi, a member of the Council of the Russian Federation. Only Russia, Venezuela, Syria, Nauru and Nicaragua have recognized Abkhazia as an independent state.
The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement condemning the "elections". The statement said that the "elections" in occupied Abkhazia violate Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and fully contradict the fundamental norms of international law. According to the ministry the "elections" were “yet another futile attempt to legalise ethnic cleansing, ongoing illegal occupation and factual annexation of the region of Abkhazia.” The ministry called the Russian Federation to respect the recognized international obligations, fulfil the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, and reverse its illegal decision on recognition of the so-called independence of the occupied regions. The ministry also appealed to the international community to “give due assessment and take effective measures to counter the illegal processes taking place in the occupied territories”.
The President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili also expressed her discontent with the "elections". “No government of Georgia — present or future — will accept the "elections" until the violated territorial integrity of the unified state of Georgia is restored. Due to the policy of Russification today, Abkhazian and Ossetian culture, language and identity in general are under a great threat, being on the verge of disappearing. Our joint history is a testament to the fact that without Georgians, the national distinctiveness of Abkhazians and Ossetians cannot be saved," she said. She added that the Georgian government is doing the “utmost within its ability” to improve the humanitarian, medical, educational and economic conditions in the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
A group of 15 countries, including the United States, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Estonia, Ireland, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, Finland and the Czech Republic also released a joint statement in regard to the "elections". “We reiterate full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized border. We call on Russia to fulfill the commitments of the 2008 Ceasefire Agreement including the return of its troops to the pre-conflict positions, ensure free access to humanitarian aid in the regions and withdraw the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” the statement read.
As to neighbouring countries, Azerbaijan also expressed its support for Georgia. "The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reaffirms its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and does not recognise the so-called 'presidential election' held in the Abkhazia a region of Georgia on 25 August, 2019, as well as its results. We believe that it is necessary to continue negotiations for peaceful settlement of the Abkhazia issue in compliance with the norms and principles of international law," read the official statement. Armenia’s official position regarding the elections in Abkhazia has not been announced yet.
