2022 Abkhazian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Abkhazia on 12 March 2022, with a second round taking place on 26 March.[1]

2022 Abkhazian parliamentary election
Abkhazia
← 2017 12 March 2022 (first round)
26 March 2022 (second round)
2027 →

All 35 seats in the People's Assembly
18 seats needed for a majority
Turnout51.2% (first round), 54.5% (second round)
Party Leader Seats +/–
Amtsakhara Alexey Tsugba 4 +4
Aitaira Leonid Lakerbaia 1 +1
Independents 30 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Speaker of the People's Assembly before Speaker of the People's Assembly after
Valery Kvarchia
Independent
Lasha Ashuba
Independent

Campaign

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Abkhazia is a republic whose territory is part of Georgia and which proclaimed itself independent in 1992. Only Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Syria recognize this independence. In the previous parliamentary elections in 2017, Georgia said it considered these elections illegal under international law, with its Foreign Minister condemning the vote as "a new attempt to legitimize ethnic cleansing, military intervention and occupation of Georgian territory resulting from Russian aggression."[2]

123 candidates – 107 men and 16 women – ran for seats in the 35-member People's Assembly. 19 nominees were incumbent lawmakers running for re-election. The Abkhaz central election commission closed registration for candidates on 2 March. The Abkhaz government opposition requested a prolongation of the current legislature term to launch an impeachment process against president Aslan Bzhania but those requests were not answered.[3]

Electoral system

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The 35 members of the unicameral People's Assembly are elected from single-member constituencies by two-round system for five year terms.[4]

Results by constituency

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17 of the 35 constituencies elected members in the first round. At least 15 of these seats were held by supporters of the government.[5]

1st Constituency (New District)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Inar GitsbaIndependent93345.561,287 
Gunda KvitsiniaIndependent63030.76 
Ramaz JopuaIndependent48523.68
Total2,048100.00
Valid votes2,04896.56
Invalid/blank votes733.44
Total votes2,121100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,23440.52
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

2nd Constituency (New District)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Dmitriy HalbadIndependent71049.101,00449.51
Astamur GerheliaAmtsakhara61442.461,02450.49
Beslan AvidzbaIndependent664.56
Yelena ZhilinskayaAmtsakhara563.87
Total1,446100.002,028100.00
Valid votes1,44695.76
Invalid/blank votes644.24
Total votes1,510100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,23728.83
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

3rd Constituency (Stariy Poselok)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Narsou SalakayaIndependent75542.821,215 
Khyna DumaaIndependent44725.35 
Beslan TorchuaAmtsakhara30217.13
Said DgebiaIndependent21011.91
Gennady ArdzinbaIndependent492.78
Total1,763100.00
Valid votes1,76395.14
Invalid/blank votes904.86
Total votes1,853100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,05136.69
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

4th Constituency (Severny)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Batal AibaIndependent47524.32 
Erik RshtuniIndependent42921.971,015 
Dmitriy ZhibaIndependent31816.28
Shamil AdzynbaIndependent31416.08
David CkheidzeIndependent21410.96
Alias AsabuaIndependent20310.39
Total1,953100.00
Valid votes1,95397.41
Invalid/blank votes522.59
Total votes2,005100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,84952.09
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

5th Constituency (Sinopsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Lasha AshubaIndependent1,872100.00
Total1,872100.00
Valid votes1,87298.42
Invalid/blank votes301.58
Total votes1,902100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,99747.59
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

6th Constituency (Centralny)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Dmitriy MarshanIndependent1,09641.721,763 
Raul LoluaIndependent48718.54 
Erast AgumaaIndependent43816.67
Dmitry AmichbaIndependent29511.23
Alkhas AslandziaIndependent2559.71
Konstantin TuzhbaIndependent562.13
Total2,627100.00
Valid votes2,62797.40
Invalid/blank votes702.60
Total votes2,697100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,54848.61
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

7th Constituency (Biblioteka)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Rashida AibaIndependent57422.471,213 
Amiran KakaliaIndependent48719.06 
Adgur LagvilavaIndependent40415.81
Ruslan InapshbaIndependent29111.39
Temur RekvavaIndependent27910.92
Alexey ArcheliaIndependent2158.41
Beslan KarchavaIndependent1264.93
Lasha ZukhbaIndependent1104.31
Beslan AchbaIndependent692.70
Total2,555100.00
Valid votes2,55599.07
Invalid/blank votes240.93
Total votes2,579100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,41947.59
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

8th Constituency (Mayaksky)

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Another election will be held on 28 May in the 8th constituency as both candidates received the same number of votes in the second round, a first in Abkhaz history.[6][7]

CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Naur NarmaniaIndependent51626.8598950.00
Leon GubazIndependent44523.1598950.00
Irakly ChachkhaliaIndependent36118.78
Vitaliy GabniaApsny23512.23
Astamur KakaliaPeople's Party22911.91
Anna KalyaginaParty for the Economic Development914.73
Anetta BganbaIndependent452.34
Total1,922100.001,978100.00
Valid votes1,92295.72
Invalid/blank votes864.28
Total votes2,008100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,08149.20
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)
Rerun election results
CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Naur NarmaniaIndependent7761,14952.16
Leon GubazIndependent6951,05447.84
Irakly ChachkhaliaIndependent
Timur KvekveskiriIndependent
Jansukh AdleybahIndependent
Total2,203100.00
Valid votes2,20398.22
Invalid/blank votes401.78
Total votes2,2542,243100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,06355.48
Source: Civil.ge (first round), Sputnik Abkhazia (second round)

9th Constituency (Vostochny)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Kan KvarchiyaIndependent1,17254.74
David PiliyaIndependent76635.78
Shabat DzhikirbaIndependent934.34
Said GezerdavaIndependent723.36
Alexander BasariaIndependent381.77
Total2,141100.00
Valid votes2,14198.17
Invalid/blank votes401.83
Total votes2,181100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,03371.91
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

10th Constituency (Pitsundsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Daut KhutabaIndependent1,306100.00
Total1,306100.00
Valid votes1,30698.27
Invalid/blank votes231.73
Total votes1,329100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,36430.45
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

11th Constituency (Bzypsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Timur BeiiaIndependent1,62882.60
Artur AnkvabIndependent1919.69
Evgeny KondzhariaIndependent1527.71
Total1,971100.00
Valid votes1,97193.81
Invalid/blank votes1306.19
Total votes2,101100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,27639.82
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

12th Constituency (Gagrsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Astamur ArshbaIndependent1,25053.35
Daut AgrbaIndependent76032.44
Akhra AbidzhbaIndependent24710.54
Samson DemerdzhibaIndependent863.67
Total2,343100.00
Valid votes2,34395.91
Invalid/blank votes1004.09
Total votes2,443100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,54253.79
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

13th Constituency (Gagrsky Gorodskoy)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Alhas BartsitsIndependent1,49050.492,109 
Revaz BeniaIndependent63821.62 
Alexander TsishbaIndependent63221.42
Izolda KhagbaIndependent1916.47
Total2,951100.00
Valid votes2,95196.63
Invalid/blank votes1033.37
Total votes3,054100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,98443.73
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

14th Constituency (Tsandrypshsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Galust TrapizonyanIndependent1,819100.00
Total1,819100.00
Valid votes1,81996.65
Invalid/blank votes633.35
Total votes1,882100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,35335.16
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

15th Constituency (Otkharsky)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Badrik PiliaIndependent69434.731,130 
Almaskhan BartsitsIndependent66733.38 
Valery SichinavaIndependent50425.23
Ivan TarbaIndependent1336.66
Total1,998100.00
Valid votes1,99897.08
Invalid/blank votes602.92
Total votes2,058100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,96769.36
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

16th Constituency (Duripshsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Beslan KhalvashIndependent1,36673.24
Dzhugelia AstamurIndependent49926.76
Total1,865100.00
Valid votes1,86595.69
Invalid/blank votes844.31
Total votes1,949100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,05548.06
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

17th Constituency (Lykhnynsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Aslan LakobaIndependent1,33465.78
Farid KobakhiyaIndependent69434.22
Total2,028100.00
Valid votes2,02896.53
Invalid/blank votes733.47
Total votes2,101100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,76755.77
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

18th Constituency (Gudautsky Gorodskoy Pervy)

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Neither candidate in the 18th constituency won a majority of the vote (invalid votes are counted). For Leonid Lakerbaia, it was the difference of a single voice. According to the law, another election will be held on 14 May.[8][9]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Leonid LakerbaiaAitaira90652.34
Beslan TarkilIndependent82547.66
Total1,731100.00
Valid votes1,73195.48
Invalid/blank votes824.52
Total votes1,813100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,69149.12
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia
Rerun election results
CandidatePartyVotes%
Leonid LakerbaiaAitaira1,27956.74
Beslan TarkilIndependent97543.26
Total2,254100.00
Valid votes2,25497.03
Invalid/blank votes692.97
Total votes2,323
Source: Civil.ge

19th Constituency (Gudautsky Gorodskoy Vtoroy)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Alkhas KhagbaIndependent96260.28
Astamyr AhkbaIndependent63439.72
Total1,596100.00
Valid votes1,59697.02
Invalid/blank votes492.98
Total votes1,645100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,18151.71
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

20th Constituency (Aatsynskiy)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Alisa GulariaAmtsakhara83733.191,451 
Rustam MarkholiaIndependent62824.90 
Oleg OtyrbaIndependent50019.83
Ruslan LadariaIndependent2258.92
Alias AvidzbaIndependent2118.37
Nonna SmyrIndependent1214.80
Total2,522100.00
Valid votes2,52295.06
Invalid/blank votes1314.94
Total votes2,653100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,79769.87
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

21st Constituency (Novoafonsky)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Natali SmyrIndependent73849.10 
Akhra PachuliaIndependent66444.18928 
Madina ButbaIndependent1016.72
Total1,503100.00
Valid votes1,50396.22
Invalid/blank votes593.78
Total votes1,562100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,60759.92
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

22nd Constituency (Eshersky)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Almaskhan ArdzinbaIndependent53844.72 
Fazlibey AvidzbaIndependent36430.26741 
Akhra SmyrIndependent30125.02
Total1,203100.00
Valid votes1,20394.95
Invalid/blank votes645.05
Total votes1,267100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,36253.64
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

23rd Constituency (Gumistinsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Levon GalustianIndependent1,02054.14
Artur IchmelyanIndependent86445.86
Total1,884100.00
Valid votes1,88497.31
Invalid/blank votes522.69
Total votes1,936100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,30558.58
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

24th Constituency (Pshapsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Ashot MinosyanIndependent1,05767.93
Ashot OksuzyanIndependent40526.03
Khachik TakmazyanIndependent946.04
Total1,556100.00
Valid votes1,55695.05
Invalid/blank votes814.95
Total votes1,637100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,35048.87
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

25th Constituency (Macharsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Inar SadzbaIndependent1,31453.44
Said KharaziaIndependent1,14546.56
Total2,459100.00
Valid votes2,45995.24
Invalid/blank votes1234.76
Total votes2,582100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,19949.66
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

26th Constituency (Drandsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Adgur KharaziaIndependent1,15853.51
Ilya GuniaIndependent74834.57
Yelena ChachkhaliaIndependent25811.92
Total2,164100.00
Valid votes2,16493.96
Invalid/blank votes1396.04
Total votes2,303100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,95058.30
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

27th Constituency (Baslakhusky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Venori BebiaIndependent96668.90
Grigoriy LatsuzhbaIndependent43631.10
Total1,402100.00
Valid votes1,40295.57
Invalid/blank votes654.43
Total votes1,467100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,36761.98
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

28th Constituency (Gupsky)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Demur GogiaIndependent52334.64928 
Tengiz KakubavaAmtsakhara46430.73 
Astamur LoguaIndependent41827.68
Erik KhashbaIndependent1056.95
Total1,510100.00
Valid votes1,51094.43
Invalid/blank votes895.57
Total votes1,599100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,17073.69
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

29th Constituency (Chlousky)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Almas AkabaAmtsakhara78946.471,038 
Astamur TarbaIndependent59334.92 
Astanda DzhopuaIndependent31618.61
Total1,698100.00
Valid votes1,69894.07
Invalid/blank votes1075.93
Total votes1,805100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,50372.11
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

30th Constituency (Kutolsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Vakhtang GolandziaIndependent1,00660.17
Aslan BasariaIndependent66639.83
Total1,672100.00
Valid votes1,67296.42
Invalid/blank votes623.58
Total votes1,734100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,46270.43
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

31st Constituency (Kyndygsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Rezo ZantariaIndependent94058.93
Garry KokayaIndependent65541.07
Total1,595100.00
Valid votes1,59595.68
Invalid/blank votes724.32
Total votes1,667100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,35470.82
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

32nd Constituency (Ochamchyrsky)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Batal JopuaIndependent87143.591,189 
Eshsou KakaliaIndependent53526.78 
Milana TsvizhbaIndependent52426.23
Gunda TsvizhbaIndependent683.40
Total1,998100.00
Valid votes1,99896.43
Invalid/blank votes743.57
Total votes2,072100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,09850.56
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

33rd Constituency (Tkuarchalskiy Pervyy)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Beslan EmurkhbaAmtsakhara91344.711,372 
Damir GorzoliaIndependent54126.49 
Taifun ArdzinbaIndependent48223.60
Aslan KmuzovIndependent1065.19
Total2,042100.00
Valid votes2,04299.08
Invalid/blank votes190.92
Total votes2,061100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,89452.93
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

34th Constituency (Tkuarchalskiy Vtoroy)

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
German KacharavaIndependent62646.40854 
Temur TkebuchavaIndependent40229.80 
Abesalom KvarchiaIndependent18013.34
Romeo CherkeziaIndependent14110.45
Total1,349100.00
Valid votes1,34994.67
Invalid/blank votes765.33
Total votes1,425100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,98271.90
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia (first round), CEC of Abkhazia (second round)

35th Constituency (Galsky)

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Temur ShergeliaIndependent60456.08
Beslan ArshbaIndependent22420.80
Anas KishamriaIndependent21519.96
Lasha SakaniaPeople's Front292.69
Saria ChamaguaIndependent50.46
Total1,077100.00
Valid votes1,07793.82
Invalid/blank votes716.18
Total votes1,148100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,44579.45
Source: Sputnik Abkhazia

Aftermath

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Elections in the first round were accompanied by relatively low turnout, averaging 51%, and in some constituencies, notably Sukhumi and West Abkhazia, it was well below 40%. This has raised questions from some media observers about the local politicians' trust in the general population.[10] There were reports of candidates ignoring the normal debates and focusing on service in their local communities instead, including installing new power transformers and fixing up rural roads. This was accompanied by candidates who had not been involved in politics winning or advancing to the second round at a high rate.[5]

Government formation

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Parties and candidates in favor of Aslan Bzhania won an absolute majority after the results of the second round.[11]

On 12 April 2022 Lasha Ashuba, generally seen as an ally of Bzhania, was unanimously elected as speaker by the 33 already elected deputies to the People's Assembly, as two members are yet to be elected in repeat elections.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Parliamentary Vote Slated for March 12 in Occupied Abkhazia". Civil.ge. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Georgia Says Elections In Abkhazia Are Illegal". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  3. ^ "123 Candidates to Vie for Seats in Abkhazia Vote". civil.ge. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Government structure". mfaapsny.org (in Russian). Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Supporters of authorities win parliamentary elections in Abkhazia". English Jamnews. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  6. ^ Узел, Кавказский. "Избирком анонсировал повторные выборы в Сухуме". Кавказский Узел. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  7. ^ Damey. "АПСНЫПРЕСС - ПОВТОРНЫЕ ВЫБОРЫ ПО ИЗБИРАТЕЛЬНОМУ ОКРУГУ №8 СОСТОЯТСЯ 28 МАЯ" (in Russian). Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  8. ^ Damey. "АПСНЫПРЕСС - В ИЗБИРАТЕЛЬНОМ ОКРУГЕ №18 СОСТОЯТСЯ ПОВТОРНЫЕ ВЫБОРЫ" (in Russian). Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  9. ^ Damey. "АПСНЫПРЕСС - ЦИК ЗАРЕГИСТРИРОВАЛ ЕЩЕ ОДНУ ИНИЦИАТИВНУЮ ГРУППУ ПО ВЫДВИЖЕНИЮ КАНДИДАТА В ДЕПУТАТЫ ПАРЛАМЕНТА ПО ОКРУГУ №18" (in Russian). Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  10. ^ Узел, Кавказский. "Итоги выборов в Абхазии подтвердили недоверие населения к политикам". Кавказский Узел. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Abkhazia's president wins majority support in parliamentary poll". OC Media. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  12. ^ "New Abkhaz Legislature Elects Speaker". civil.ge. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.