Acting Leader Badra Gunba Wins Presidential Election in Abkhazia

Acting President Badra Gunba has secured victory in Abkhazia’s presidential election, winning nearly 55% of the vote against opposition leader Adgur Ardzinba, who garnered just under 42%, according to preliminary results from the region’s electoral commission. The election follows months of political turmoil that saw former leader Aslan Bzhania ousted after mass protests against an investment deal with Russia. In a speech following his win, Gunba vowed to make Abkhazia “independent, free, and prosperous.”

Abkhazia, a Russia-backed breakaway region of Georgia, has been grappling with an electricity crisis caused by low water levels at a key hydroelectric plant and extensive cryptocurrency mining. The Georgian government condemned the election as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as most countries recognize Abkhazia as part of Georgia. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Gunba on his victory, reinforcing Moscow’s strong ties with the territory.

Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia after a war in the early 1990s, with Russian support, and Moscow officially recognized the region following the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. Despite heavy reliance on Russia for political and economic stability, some Abkhazians remain wary of growing Russian influence. The region has experienced political instability, with Gunba’s win marking the third time since 2014 that an Abkhazian leader has been forced out by mass protests.

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