President of Abkhazia

{{Infobox official post

| post = President

| body = the Republic of Abkhazia

| native_name =

| flag = Flag of the President of Abkhazia.svg

| flagcaption = Standard of the president of Abkhazia

| flagborder = yes

| image =

| incumbent = Badra Gunba

| incumbentsince = 2 April 2025

| residence = Sukhumi

| termlength = 5 years

| termlength_qualified = Renewable once

| formation = 26 November 1994

| first = Vladislav Ardzinba

| deputy = Vice President of Abkhazia

| website = http://presidentofabkhazia.org/

}}

The president of Abkhazia is the de facto head of state of the partially recognized Republic of Abkhazia, that is de jure part of Georgia. The position was created in 1994. Before the office of president was created the head of state position was known as the chairman of Parliament between 1992 and the creation of the 1994 constitution. Before the position of Chairman of Parliament, the highest office in Abkhazia was the chairman of the Supreme Soviet. The post would last from the declaration of sovereignty from the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic on 25 August 1990 until the outright declaration of independence on 23 July 1992.

Oath of office

During Alexander Ankvab's presidency, Parliament decided to scrap from the Presidential oath the phrase:

{{blockquote|{{lang|ab|Жәлар рылахь соуааит иҧшьоу абри ахақәкы сацәхьаҵны саныҟала}}
— If I deviate from this path, then let me be punished by my people}}

During a meeting on 16 July 2014, following the Abkhazian Revolution, Parliament decided to restore this phrase. According to Vice Speaker Emma Gamisonia, the decision to remove the phrase had been taken because it was perceived as a curse, following the premature death of Abkhazia's first two presidents, Vladislav Ardzinba and Sergei Bagapsh. MP Daur Arshba claimed that the decision had been taken illegally, without the necessary quorum.{{cite news|title=Восстановлен текст присяги президента в первоначальной редакции|url=http://www.apsnypress.info/news/vosstanovlen-tekst-prisyagi-prezidenta-v-pervonachalnoy-redaktsii-/|access-date=7 March 2015|agency=Apsnypress|date=16 July 2015}}

On 18 August, the People's Assembly of Abkhazia additionally adopted a bill authored by Said Kharazia and was first proposed by him during the meeting on 16 July, adding the invocation{{cite news|title=Депутаты парламента большинством голосов внесли изменение в текст присяги президента РА.|url=http://apsnypress.info/news/12800.html|access-date=17 September 2014|agency=Apsnypress|date=18 August 2014}}

{{lang|ab|Иа Анцәа Ду, суҳәоит Сыԥсадгьыли сыуаажәлари рымаҵ аураҿы амчи алшареи суҭарц!}}
— Almighty God, give me strength to serve country and people!

List of officeholders

=Non-presidential heads of state=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
rowspan=2\| {{abbr\|No.\|Number}} ! rowspan=2\| Portrait ! rowspan=2\| Name {{small\|(Birth–Death)}} ! rowspan=2\| Position ! colspan=3\| Term of office ! rowspan=2\| Political party
Took office ! Left office ! Time in office
style="background:{{party color\|Communist Party}}; color:white"\| 1 \| 60px \| Valerian Kobakhia {{small\|(1929–1992)}} \| rowspan=2\|Chairman of the Supreme Soviet \| 25 August 1990 \| 24 December 1990 \| {{ayd\|1990\|08\|25\|1990\|12\|24}} \| Communist Party of Abkhazia
style="background:{{party color\|Communist Party}}; color:white"\| 2 \| rowspan=2\|60px \| rowspan=2\|Vladislav Ardzinba {{small\|(1944–2010)}} \| 24 December 1990 \| 23 July 1992 \| {{ayd\|1990\|12\|24\|1992\|07\|23}} \| Communist Party of Abkhazia
style="background:{{party color\|Independent politician}}; color:black"\| {{small\|(2)}} \| Chairman of Parliament \| 23 July 1992 \| 26 November 1994 \| {{ayd\|1992\|07\|23\|1994\|11\|26}} \| Independent

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

rowspan=2| {{abbr|No.|Number}}

! rowspan=2| Portrait

! rowspan=2| Name
{{small|(Birth–Death)}}

! rowspan=2| Position

! colspan=3| Term of office

! rowspan=2| Political party

Took office

! Left office

! Time in office

style="background:{{party color|Communist Party}}; color:white"| 1

| 60px

| Valerian Kobakhia
{{small|(1929–1992)}}

| rowspan=2|Chairman of the Supreme Soviet

| 25 August 1990

| 24 December 1990

| {{ayd|1990|08|25|1990|12|24}}

| Communist Party of Abkhazia

style="background:{{party color|Communist Party}}; color:white"| 2

| rowspan=2|60px

| rowspan=2|Vladislav Ardzinba
{{small|(1944–2010)}}

| 24 December 1990

| 23 July 1992

| {{ayd|1990|12|24|1992|07|23}}

| Communist Party of Abkhazia

style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}}; color:black"| {{small|(2)}}

| Chairman of Parliament

| 23 July 1992

| 26 November 1994

| {{ayd|1992|07|23|1994|11|26}}

| Independent

=List of presidents of Abkhazia=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan=2\| {{abbr\|No.\|Number}} ! rowspan=2\| Portrait ! rowspan=2\| Name {{small\|(Birth–Death)}} ! colspan=3\| Term of office ! rowspan=2\| Political party ! rowspan=2\| Election ! rowspan=2\| Vice president(s)
Took office ! Left office ! Time in office {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 1 \| image = Vladislav Ardzinba 1996 Abkhazia stamp portrait only.jpg \|bSize = 60 \| officeholder = Vladislav Ardzinba \| born_year = 1944 \| died_year = 2010 \| term_start = 26 November 1994 \| term_end = 12 February 2005 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|1994\|11\|26\|2005\|02\|12}} \| alt_party = Independent politician \| election = 1994 \| election2 = 1999 \| alt_officeholder = Valery Arshba \| alt_officeholder_party = \| alt_officeholder_term_start = 1995 \| alt_officeholder_term_end = 2005 }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 2 \| image = Sergei Bagapsh (Interfax).jpg \|bSize = 60 \| officeholder = Sergei Bagapsh \| born_year = 1949 \| died_year = 2011 \| died = y \| term_start = 12 February 2005 \| term_end = 29 May 2011 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2005\|02\|12\|2011\|05\|29}} \| alt_party = United Abkhazia \| election = 2005 \| election2 = 2009 \| alt_officeholder = Raul Khajimba \| alt_officeholder_term_start = 2005 \| alt_officeholder_term_end = 2009 \| alt_officeholder2 = Alexander Ankvab \| alt_officeholder2_term_start = 2009 \| alt_officeholder2_term_end = 2011 }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = Alexander Ankvab - 06.10.2011 (cropped).jpg \|bSize = 60 \| officeholder = Alexander Ankvab \| born_year = 1952 \| died_year = \| term_start = 29 May 2011 \| term_end = 26 September 2011 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2011\|05\|29\|2011\|09\|26}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Aitaira \| election = – \| alt_officeholder = – }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 3 \| image = Alexander Ankvab - 06.10.2011 (cropped).jpg \|bSize = 60 \| officeholder = Alexander Ankvab \| born_year = 1952 \| died_year = \| term_start = 26 September 2011 \| term_end = 1 June 2014 {{small\|(Resigned)}} \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2011\|09\|26\|2014\|06\|01}} \| alt_party = Aitaira \| election = 2011 \| alt_officeholder = Mikhail Logua \| alt_officeholder_term_start = 2011 \| alt_officeholder_term_end = 2013 }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = Валерий Бганба (cropped).jpg \|bSize = 60 \| officeholder = Valeri Bganba \| born_year = 1954 \| died_year = \| term_start = 1 June 2014 \| term_end = 25 September 2014 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2014\|06\|01\|2014\|09\|25}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Independent politician \| election = – \| alt_officeholder = – }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 4 \| image = Raul Khajimba 2015.jpg \|bSize = 60 \| officeholder = Raul Khajimba \| born_year = 1959 \| died_year = \| term_start = 25 September 2014 \| term_end = 12 January 2020 {{small\|(Resigned)}} \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2014\|09\|25\|2020\|01\|12}} \| alt_party = Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia \| election = 2014 \| election2 = 2019 \| alt_officeholder = Vitali Gabnia \| alt_officeholder_term_start = 2014 \| alt_officeholder_term_end = 2019 \| alt_officeholder2 = Aslan Bartsits \| alt_officeholder2_term_start = 2019 \| alt_officeholder2_term_end = 2020 }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = Валерий Бганба (cropped).jpg \|bSize = 60 \| officeholder = Valeri Bganba \| born_year = 1954 \| died_year = \| term_start = 13 January 2020 \| term_end = 23 April 2020 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2020\|01\|13\|2020\|04\|23}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Independent politician \| election = – \| alt_officeholder = – }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 5 \| image = Aslan Bzhania (2020-06-24).jpg \|bSize = 60 \| officeholder = Aslan Bzhania \| born_year = 1964 \| died_year = \| term_start = 23 April 2020 \| term_end = 19 November 2024 {{small\|(Resigned)}} \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2020\|04\|23\|2024\|11\|19}} \| alt_party = Independent politician \| election = 2020 \| alt_officeholder = Badra Gunba \| alt_officeholder_term_start = 2020 \| alt_officeholder_term_end = 2025 }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image =\|bSize = 60 \| officeholder = Badra Gunba \| born_year = 1982 \| died_year = \| term_start = 19 November 2024 \| term_end = 2 April 2025 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2024\|11\|19\|2025\|04\|02}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Independent politician \| election = – \| alt_officeholder = – }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 6 \| image =\|bSize = 60 \| officeholder = Badra Gunba \| born_year = 1982 \| died_year = \| term_start = 2 April 2025 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2025\|04\|02}} \| alt_party = Independent politician \| election = 2025 \| alt_officeholder = Beslan Bigvava \| alt_officeholder_term_start = 2025 \| alt_officeholder_term_end = }}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan=2| {{abbr|No.|Number}}

! rowspan=2| Portrait

! rowspan=2| Name
{{small|(Birth–Death)}}

! colspan=3| Term of office

! rowspan=2| Political party

! rowspan=2| Election

! rowspan=2| Vice president(s)

Took office

! Left office

! Time in office

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 1

| image = Vladislav Ardzinba 1996 Abkhazia stamp portrait only.jpg |bSize = 60

| officeholder = Vladislav Ardzinba

| born_year = 1944

| died_year = 2010

| term_start = 26 November 1994

| term_end = 12 February 2005

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1994|11|26|2005|02|12}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| election = 1994

| election2 = 1999

| alt_officeholder = Valery Arshba

| alt_officeholder_party =

| alt_officeholder_term_start = 1995

| alt_officeholder_term_end = 2005

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 2

| image = Sergei Bagapsh (Interfax).jpg |bSize = 60

| officeholder = Sergei Bagapsh

| born_year = 1949

| died_year = 2011

| died = y

| term_start = 12 February 2005

| term_end = 29 May 2011

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2005|02|12|2011|05|29}}

| alt_party = United Abkhazia

| election = 2005

| election2 = 2009

| alt_officeholder = Raul Khajimba

| alt_officeholder_term_start = 2005

| alt_officeholder_term_end = 2009

| alt_officeholder2 = Alexander Ankvab

| alt_officeholder2_term_start = 2009

| alt_officeholder2_term_end = 2011

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Alexander Ankvab - 06.10.2011 (cropped).jpg |bSize = 60

| officeholder = Alexander Ankvab

| born_year = 1952

| died_year =

| term_start = 29 May 2011

| term_end = 26 September 2011

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2011|05|29|2011|09|26}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Aitaira

| election = –

| alt_officeholder = –

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 3

| image = Alexander Ankvab - 06.10.2011 (cropped).jpg |bSize = 60

| officeholder = Alexander Ankvab

| born_year = 1952

| died_year =

| term_start = 26 September 2011

| term_end = 1 June 2014
{{small|(Resigned)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2011|09|26|2014|06|01}}

| alt_party = Aitaira

| election = 2011

| alt_officeholder = Mikhail Logua

| alt_officeholder_term_start = 2011

| alt_officeholder_term_end = 2013

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Валерий Бганба (cropped).jpg |bSize = 60

| officeholder = Valeri Bganba

| born_year = 1954

| died_year =

| term_start = 1 June 2014

| term_end = 25 September 2014

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|06|01|2014|09|25}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Independent politician

| election = –

| alt_officeholder = –

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 4

| image = Raul Khajimba 2015.jpg |bSize = 60

| officeholder = Raul Khajimba

| born_year = 1959

| died_year =

| term_start = 25 September 2014

| term_end = 12 January 2020
{{small|(Resigned)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|09|25|2020|01|12}}

| alt_party = Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia

| election = 2014

| election2 = 2019

| alt_officeholder = Vitali Gabnia

| alt_officeholder_term_start = 2014

| alt_officeholder_term_end = 2019

| alt_officeholder2 = Aslan Bartsits

| alt_officeholder2_term_start = 2019

| alt_officeholder2_term_end = 2020

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Валерий Бганба (cropped).jpg |bSize = 60

| officeholder = Valeri Bganba

| born_year = 1954

| died_year =

| term_start = 13 January 2020

| term_end = 23 April 2020

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2020|01|13|2020|04|23}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Independent politician

| election = –

| alt_officeholder = –

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 5

| image = Aslan Bzhania (2020-06-24).jpg |bSize = 60

| officeholder = Aslan Bzhania

| born_year = 1964

| died_year =

| term_start = 23 April 2020

| term_end = 19 November 2024
{{small|(Resigned)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2020|04|23|2024|11|19}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| election = 2020

| alt_officeholder = Badra Gunba

| alt_officeholder_term_start = 2020

| alt_officeholder_term_end = 2025

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image =|bSize = 60

| officeholder = Badra Gunba

| born_year = 1982

| died_year =

| term_start = 19 November 2024

| term_end = 2 April 2025

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2024|11|19|2025|04|02}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Independent politician

| election = –

| alt_officeholder = –

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 6

| image =|bSize = 60

| officeholder = Badra Gunba

| born_year = 1982

| died_year =

| term_start = 2 April 2025

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2025|04|02}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| election = 2025

| alt_officeholder = Beslan Bigvava

| alt_officeholder_term_start = 2025

| alt_officeholder_term_end =

}}

Timeline

{{#tag:timeline|

ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:16

PlotArea = top:10 bottom:80 right:150 left:20

AlignBars = late

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

Colors =

id:independent value:gray(0.8) legend:None_(Independent)

id:cpa value:rgb(0.84,0.08,0.22) legend:Communist_Party_of_Abkhazia

id:ua value:rgb(0.94,0.08,0.22) legend:United_Abkhazia

id:a value:rgb(0.20,0.50,0.99) legend:Aitaira

id:fnua value:rgb(0.30,0.70,0.40) legend:Forum_for_the_National_Unity_of_Abkhazia

id:gray1 value:gray(0.85)

id:gray2 value:gray(0.95)

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/1990 till:{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+1}}

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1990

ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1990

Legend = columns:1 left:150 top:35 columnwidth:170

TextData =

pos:(20,38) textcolor:black fontsize:M

text:"Political party:"

BarData =

bar:Kobakhia

bar:Ardzinba

bar:Bagapsh

bar:Ankvab

bar:Bganba

bar:Khajimba

bar:Bzhania

bar:Gunba

PlotData =

width:5 align:left fontsize:9 shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

bar: Kobakhia

from: 25/08/1990 till: 24/12/1990 color:cpa text:"Valerian Kobakhia"

bar: Ardzinba

from: 24/12/1990 till: 23/07/1992 color:cpa

from: 23/07/1992 till: 12/02/2005 color:independent text:"Vladislav Ardzinba"

bar: Bagapsh

from: 12/02/2005 till: 29/05/2011 color:ua text:"Sergei Bagapsh"

bar: Ankvab

from: 29/05/2011 till: 01/06/2014 color:a text:"Alexander Ankvab"

bar: Bganba

from: 01/06/2014 till: 25/09/2014 color:independent

bar: Khajimba

from: 25/09/2014 till: 12/01/2020 color:fnua text:"Raul Khajimba"

bar: Bganba

from: 13/01/2020 till: 23/04/2020 color:independent text:"Valeri Bganba"

bar: Bzhania

from: 23/04/2020 till: 19/11/2024 color:independent text:"Aslan Bzhania"

bar: Gunba

from: 19/11/2024 till: $today color:independent text:"Badra Gunba"

}}

Latest election

References

External links

[http://presidentofabkhazia.org/en/ President of the Republic of Abkhazia – Official site (English Version)]

Category:Politics of Abkhazia

Heads of state

Category:1994 establishments in Abkhazia

President of Abkhazia

Oath of office

List of officeholders

=Non-presidential heads of state=

=List of presidents of Abkhazia=

Timeline

Latest election

See also

References

External links