From April to August 2014, an internal political crisis took place in Abkhazia , during which from May 27 to June 1 there were riots and the seizure of government buildings in Sukhum , rallies and rallies of opponents of the current government and its supporters. The president of the republic, Alexander Ankvab , started a dialogue with the protesters at the beginning, but after taking over the administration building, which was negotiating for fear of his life and health, he moved to a Russian military base , where he continued negotiations with the participation of Vladislav Surkov and Rashid Nurgaliyev who arrived there. No significant progress was achieved in the negotiations.
| The political crisis in Abkhazia | |
|---|---|
| A country |  Republic of Abkhazia |
| date of | April 29 - August 24, 2014 |
| Cause | great powers of the President, suspicions of embezzlement of the budget, termination of integration with Russia, attitude to the certification of the Georgian population |
| primary goal | Amendment of the Constitution, resignation of the Cabinet of Ministers |
| Total | The resignation of President Alexander Ankvab and the Cabinet of Ministers . Early Presidential elections and the election of Raul Khajimba as President. |
| Organizers | Coordination Council of opposition political parties and public organizations led by Raul Khadzhimba , part of the deputies of the National Assembly |
| Opponents | Government of the Republic of Abkhazia President of the Republic of Abkhazia |
The result was the resignation of the President of the Republic, Alexander Ankvab, together with the Cabinet of Ministers and the holding of elections , on which on August 24, 2014 the opposition leader Raul Khadjimba won. In addition, the heads of the three eastern regions of Abkhazia were dismissed. Thanks to the restraint on both sides of the conflict, despite the fact that many participants in the events had weapons, no fire was opened and victims were avoided.
Event
Beginning of Conflict
On April 29, 2014, the Coordinating Council of opposition political parties and public organizations, uniting the irreconcilable opposition under the general leadership of Raul Khadjimba, bypassing the constitutional procedures, demanded that President Alexander Ankvab resign the government of Abkhazia [1] and form a “government of popular trust”. The Coordinating Council proposed to reserve the right to nominate a candidate for prime minister, said that it was necessary to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, providing for the transfer of part of the powers of the president to parliament and the government. Ankvab was also demanded to dismiss the Prosecutor General and the heads of administrations of three districts: Ochamchirsky , Tkuarchalsky and Galsky . The reason was that under the leadership of these officials, Abkhaz passports were issued to residents of Georgian nationality , compactly living in these three areas on the territory adjacent to Georgia [2] . Also, Ankvab was accused of embezzlement of funds received as financial assistance from Russia, and excessive authoritarianism of the board [3] . The President regarded the demands of the opposition as an ultimatum [2] .
On May 27, 2014, in Sukhumi, the opposition, in the face of Khadzhimba’s supporters, stated that their demands were ignored and organized a rally [2] near the building of the presidential administration, at which he demanded that the government of Abkhazia resign from President Ankvab. According to the Apsny Agency in Abkhazia, about 10 thousand people took part in the rally [1] [4] . During the negotiations, during which, according to Ankvab, the opposition constantly blackmailed him by not being able to keep the crowd [5] , the parties managed to achieve a shaky compromise, which turned out to be short-lived [2] . However, on the evening of May 27, a crowd of opposition supporters occupied the building of the Presidential Administration of Abkhazia, breaking glass in it and breaking doors, as a result of which the negotiations were stopped [2] [4] . Despite the presidential guard’s ability to repel the onslaught of the thugs using weapons, the head of state for humane reasons forbade firing on rebellious compatriots [2] . To avoid bloodshed, as well as to be able to be under the constant supervision of doctors [K. 1] , President Ankvab left the building [6] and left for the territory of the Russian military base in Gudauta [5] .
In the busy administration building, the opposition held a meeting of the coordinating council, after which the forces of the protesters advanced into the building of the state television and radio company, where they demanded broadcast. Some people were armed [2] . On the morning of May 28, Khadjimba announced that the opposition announced the Opposition Coordination Council as the highest authority in Abkhazia [7] . Alexander Ankvab said that he regards the events as an attempt to seize power by force [2] [4] [8] . Law enforcement officials expressed support for the current president [6] [9] . An extraordinary parliamentary meeting was scheduled for May 28 to discuss the current crisis and find ways out of it [2] , but the meeting did not take place due to the absence of many deputies - mostly opposition representatives came to the meeting and accepted the appeal [9] .
In the evening of May 28, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Vladislav Surkov and Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Rashid Nurgaliyev arrived from Moscow for a mediation mission [10] from a Russian military base in Gudauta [7] . Surkov began consultations of a political nature, in the framework of which he met both with Ankvab and with representatives of the opposition. With the mediation of Surkov, negotiators were selected to resolve the crisis: from the opposition, he was Vitaliy Gabniya , from the president, Secretary of the Security Council Nuzgar Ashuba . Soon, negotiations between Surkov and Ankvab dried up, a compromise with the opposition through intermediaries was achieved only on secondary issues, for example, about the stable operation of banks [11] .
Change of power
On May 29, 2014, the parliament of Abkhazia , which was assembled in an incomplete composition (21 deputies out of 35), found out about the futile negotiations in Gudauta, invited Ankvab to resign, and announced a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Leonid Lakerbaia . Ankvab assessed the unfolding events as “ an attempt to seize power by force by force of arms” [1] , however, after another round of consultations with Surkov, he agreed to new negotiations with the opposition [12] . Prime Minister Lakerbaia announced his readiness to resign if necessary, explaining that not a single position is worth the bloodshed; however, Ankvab refused to dismiss the prime minister. [13]
On May 31, the Parliament of Abkhazia assigned the duties of the President of Abkhazia to the Chairman of the Parliament, Valery Bganbu, and called for early presidential elections on August 24, 2014 [1] . Ankvab considered this a violation of the constitution of Abkhazia [5] [14] , however, on June 1, Bganba met with Ankvab [14] , and at about 5 pm Moscow time the latter, having completed consultations with Abkhaz politicians and Russian mediators, in a televised address to the people announced his resignation in order to maintain stability in the country [1] . However, Ankvab noted that the actions of the parliament did not comply with the Constitution and laws of Abkhazia [5] . The new authorities did not keep their promise to ensure the ex-president Ankvab immunity and state protection [15] . In conditions when two sabotage groups were preparing the seventh assassination attempt on Ankvab , the ex-president was forced to leave for Moscow [5] .
On June 2, Acting President Valery Bganba dismissed the Attorney General of the Republic of Abkhazia Safarbey Mikanbu and the heads of the Gali and Tkuarchal districts [16] , and on June 3, two deputy prime ministers Indira Vardaniya , Beslan Eshbu, as well as the head of the Ochamchir district, Murman Jopua [17] . On June 4, the secretary of the Security Council of Abkhazia Nugzar Ashuba and the head of the presidential administration, Beslan Kubrava , resigned , saying that what was happening in the country was not legally justified and they found it impossible to continue working in such an environment [18] .
At a meeting of the Parliament of Abkhazia on June 6, the former military prosecutor of the Republic of Abkhazia Zurab Agumava was appointed as the new prosecutor general [19] , and on June 12 new secretaries of the Security Council and head of the presidential administration of the Republic of Abkhazia Avtandil Garcia and Astamur Taniya were appointed [20] . On June 13, Beslan Butba was appointed Acting Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia [21] .
On June 12, opposition representatives expressed no confidence in the chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic, Batal Tabagua [22] . The reason for this was the statement of the latter that all citizens of the republic will be allowed to take part in the elections, except for those whose passports were seized according to the results of the inspection [ K. 2] [23] . Khadjimba said that, in his opinion, the passport commissions of the Gali, Tkuarchal and Ochamchir districts acted illegally, and the passports of citizens there are considered invalid, threatening with a change in the composition of the CEC [24] . On June 16, members of the election commission confirmed their confidence in the chairman, so the latter refused to resign before the end of his term [23] [25] .
On the same day, a letter from Khadjimba was published on the parliament’s website in which he repeated his accusations against the Ankvab administration, also accusing him of cowardice, since he “was afraid to go out to his own people”. According to him, there was no seizure of power, and the opposition tried to work out a solution acceptable to everyone, but Ankvab refused to make concessions [26] .
New Presidential Election
On June 18, 2014, the Opposition Coordinating Council nominated Khajimba and Vitaliy Gabniya as candidates for presidency and vice-presidency [27] . The Amtsakhar movement nominated Aslan Bzhaniyu, the head of the Abkhazian State Security Service, as president [28] . The former Interior Minister Leonid Dzyapshba [29] with Leonid Gabniya as a candidate for the post of vice president [30] also announced their intention to run for office. On June 25, Acting Minister of Defense Merab Kishmaria was registered as a presidential candidate, and the next day, former Deputy Prime Minister Beslan Eshba was also nominated [31] . The latter, however, was denied registration due to problems with knowledge of the Abkhaz language. On July 14, CEC Chairman Tabagua announced that four candidates were registered as a result of testing for fluency in the state language - Aslan Bzhaniya , Leonid Dzyapshba , Merab Kishmariya and Raul Khadzhimba [28] .
On July 1, the CEC of Abkhazia excluded from the database more than 22 thousand voters, residents of the Georgian nationality of Tkuarchal , Ochamchir and Gali districts who, according to the opposition, illegally obtained Abkhaz passports [1] [25] . This provided Khajimba, who had no supporters among the Georgians, a significant advantage [32] .
On August 20, in the courtyard of the house of the head of the Central Executive Committee of Abkhazia, Batal Tabagua, a hand grenade exploded. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Abkhazia opened a criminal case under the articles “Hooliganism” and “Damage to property” [33] , while the CEC called the incident a terrorist act. Presidential candidate Aslan Bzhania joined in with this characteristic [34] .
On August 24, 2014, the victory in the presidential elections in Abkhazia was won by Raul Khadjimba , who gained 50.57% of the vote. Vitaly Gabnia was elected Vice President. The inauguration of the president took place on September 25 [35] . After the inauguration of the new president, Aslan Bzhaniya was dismissed from his post as chairman of the State Security Service, his place was taken by Zurab Margania [36] .
International Reaction
Russia
On June 2, 2014, the day after Ankvab’s resignation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov , refraining from assessing the constitutionality of the events in the republic, announced that Russia was considering what was happening as an internal affair of the Abkhaz people [10] . The same was announced on June 5 by spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich [37] .
Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Abkhazia Sergey Grigoryev said that the main task was to avoid bloodshed. The ambassador rejected the existence of any integration agreements between the Russian Federation and Abkhazia [38] . However, already on November 24, Putin and Khadjimba signed a 10-year alliance and strategic partnership agreement at the Sochi residence of the President of the Russian Federation , according to which Russia and Abkhazia created a common defense space and a joint force grouping, with the prospect of full military-political integration of the two states [39] .
Georgia
On September 4, 2014, the Permanent Representative of Georgia to the UN Kakha Imnadze signed a letter to the Security Council and the head of the organization, Ban Ki-moon , urging the international community to condemn the elections in Abkhazia as undermining the foundations of international law [40] . The ban on the voting of Georgians in the Abkhaz elections was regarded as a possible threat of the start of a new “genocide of Georgians in Abkhazia” [25] .
Other states and international organizations
On August 25, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki declared that the United States did not recognize the very fact of early elections and their results and demanded that Russia reconsider the decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia [41] . On the same day, a similar statement was made by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen [42] and the head of the European Union’s foreign policy service, Maya Kosyanchich [43] .
Notes
Comments
- ↑ In May 2014, Ankvab suffered a second hypertensive crisis .
- ↑ Passports were seized from 1183 people.
Sources
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ministry of Internal Affairs of Abkhazia: 22,787 residents of the republic illegally obtained internal passports , TASS (June 30, 2014). Archived December 18, 2016. Date of treatment December 18, 2016.
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kuchuberiya A. The President of Abkhazia called the events in Sukhum an attempt to seize power by force , TASS (May 28, 2014). Archived December 17, 2016. Date of treatment December 17, 2016.
- ↑ Bologov P., Fedotova A. Maidan in Sukhum: why unrest began in Abkhazia . RBC (May 28, 2014). Date of treatment December 17, 2016. Archived on May 29, 2014.
- ↑ 1 2 3 Secretary of the Security Council of Abkhazia considers the situation in the republic as an attempt at a coup d'etat , RBC (May 28, 2014). Archived December 17, 2016. Date of treatment December 17, 2016.
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 Lensky, Ankvab, 2015 .
- ↑ 1 2 The President of Abkhazia called the events in Sukhumi an attempt to seize power , Apsnypress , Forbes (May 28, 2014). Archived on May 28, 2014. Date of treatment December 17, 2016.
- ↑ 1 2 Surkov and Ankvab discussed the situation in Abkhazia face to face , Glance (May 29, 2014). Archived on August 10, 2014. Date of treatment December 18, 2016.
- ↑ The Interior Minister of Abkhazia called the actions of the opposition an attempted coup , Sight (May 28, 2014). Archived on May 31, 2014.
- ↑ 1 2 Kuchuberiya A. The Parliament of Abkhazia could not hold a meeting due to the absence of many deputies , TASS (May 28, 2014). Archived December 17, 2016. Date of treatment December 17, 2016.
- ↑ 1 2 Lebedev A. Lavrov: Russia considers what is happening in Abkhazia as an internal affair of the Abkhaz people , TASS (June 2, 2014). Archived December 17, 2016. Date of treatment December 17, 2016.
- ↑ Surkov: Ankvab and the opposition are interested in the stable operation of banks , RIA Novosti (May 29, 2014). Archived on August 10, 2014. Date of treatment December 18, 2016.
- ↑ Ankvab: Abkhazia respects the will of Crimeans, supports and recognizes their fateful choice . Kommersant (March 16, 2014). Date of treatment December 16, 2016. Archived on August 9, 2014.
- ↑ Президент Абхазии пока не согласен уходить в отставку , Рамблер (30 мая 2014). Архивировано 18 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 18 декабря 2016.
- ↑ 1 2 Бганба запланировал встречу с Анквабом на воскресенье , Взгляд (31 мая 2014). Архивировано 31 мая 2014 года. Дата обращения 18 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Экс-президент Абхазии Александр Анкваб лишился охраны , НТВ (12 июня 2014). Архивировано 29 июля 2014 года. Дата обращения 15 декабря 2016.
- ↑ И. о. президента Абхазии внес представление об увольнении генпрокурора , РИА Новости (2 июня 2014). Архивировано 8 июня 2014 года. Дата обращения 18 декабря 2016.
- ↑ И.о. президента Абхазии уволил двух вице-премьеров , РИА Новости (3 июня 2014). Архивировано 18 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 18 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Кучуберия А., Кстырёв В . Секретарь Совета безопасности Абхазии и руководитель администрации Президента заявили о своей отставке , ТАСС (4 июня 2014). Архивировано 18 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 18 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Бывший военный прокурор Абхазии назначен исполняющим обязанности генпрокурора , ТАСС (6 июня 2014). Архивировано 18 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 18 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Назначены и. о. секретаря Совбеза и руководителя администрации президента Абхазии , ТАСС (12 июня 2014). Архивировано 18 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 18 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Шария В . Беслан Бутба: «Я поддерживаю Хаджимба, и думаю, что мы победим» , Эхо Кавказа (17 июня 2014). Архивировано 18 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 18 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Председателю ЦИК Баталу Табагуа было предложено добровольно сложить полномочия , ТАСС (12 июня 2014). Архивировано 18 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 18 декабря 2016.
- ↑ 1 2 Глава ЦИК Абхазии отказывается уходить в отставку по требованию оппозиции , ТАСС (16 июня 2014). Архивировано 18 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 18 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Рауль Хаджимба: все паспорта, которые были выданы по рекомендациям комиссий при администрациях Галского, Ткуарчалского и Очамчырского районов, считаются недействительными , Апсныпресс (12 июня 2014). Архивировано 18 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 18 декабря 2016.
- ↑ 1 2 3 Чарквиани Н. 26 тысяч грузин, проживающих в Абхазии, лишатся абхазских паспортов . Голос Америки (13 июня 2014). Дата обращения 19 декабря 2016. Архивировано 19 декабря 2016 года.
- ↑ Интервью журналистам депутата Народного Собрания - Парламента Рауля Хаджимба . Народное собрание Республики Абхазия (12 июня 2014). Дата обращения 22 декабря 2016. Архивировано 22 декабря 2016 года.
- ↑ КС принял рекомендательное решение о выдвижении и поддержке тандема Рауль Хаджимба — Виталий Габния на выборах президента Абхазии , Апсныпресс (18 июня 2014). Архивировано 19 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 19 декабря 2016.
- ↑ 1 2 Кучуберия А . За пост президента Абхазии будут бороться четыре генерала , ТАСС (15 июля 2014). Архивировано 19 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 19 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Руководитель общественного объединения «Общегражданский союз Абхазии — за законность, стабильность и демократию», Леонид Дзапшба намерен баллотироваться в президенты , Апсныпресс (18 июня 2014). Архивировано 19 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 19 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Кучуберия А . Экс-министр внутренних дел Абхазии будет участвовать в выборах как альтернативный кандидат , ТАСС (26 июня 2014). Архивировано 19 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 19 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Кучуберия А . Бывший вице-премьер Абхазии Беслан Эшба выдвинут кандидатом в президенты , ТАСС (26 июня 2014). Архивировано 19 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 19 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Перевозкина, 2014 .
- ↑ Кучуберия А . Во дворе дома главы ЦИК Абхазии произошел взрыв , ТАСС (20 августа 2016). Архивировано 19 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 19 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Кучуберия А . В ЦИК Абхазии назвали инцидент с главой комиссии террористическим актом , ТАСС (20 августа 2016). Архивировано 19 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 19 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Кучуберия А . Избранный президент Абхазии: инаугурация пройдет в соответствии с законодательством , ТАСС (25 августа 2014). Архивировано 19 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 19 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Зураб Маргания назначен председателем СГБ РА , Апсныпресс (29 сентября 2014). Архивировано 3 июля 2015 года. Дата обращения 22 декабря 2016.
- ↑ РФ надеется, что власти Абхазии обеспечат стабильность перед выборами , РИА Новости (5 июня 2014). Архивировано 17 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 17 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Агафонова М. Интервью Посла России в Республике Абхазия С. В. Григорьева . Абаза-ТВ (18 июня 2014). Дата обращения 17 декабря 2016. Архивировано 27 июня 2014 года.
- ↑ Путин и Хаджимба подписали новый договор между Россией и Абхазией . Дата обращения 17 декабря 2016. Архивировано 9 марта 2013 года.
- ↑ Зеленин О . Грузия пожаловалась в ООН на проведение президентских выборов в Абхазии , ТАСС (5 сентября 2014). Архивировано 17 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 17 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Зеленин О . США не признают легитимность прошедших в Абхазии президентских выборов , ТАСС (5 сентября 2014). Архивировано 17 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 17 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Арутюнян А . НАТО не признает легитимность выборов президента Абхазии , ТАСС (5 сентября 2014). Архивировано 17 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 17 декабря 2016.
- ↑ Шишло А . Евросоюз не признает легитимность выборов президента Абхазии , ТАСС (5 сентября 2014). Архивировано 17 декабря 2016 года. Дата обращения 17 декабря 2016.
Literature
- Ленский И. Л. , Анкваб А. З. Управлять Абхазией нельзя методами популизма и дилетантских экспромтов // Военно-промышленный курьер. — 2015. — 17 июня ( № 22 (588) ). Архивировано 16 июня 2015 года.
- Перевозкина М. Президентом Абхазии стал сослуживец Путина // Московский комсомолец . — 2014. — 26 августа ( № 26607 ). Архивировано 19 декабря 2016 года.
Links
- Зедгенидзе Г. Почему в Абхазии тоже «майдан» . Slon (28 мая 2014). Дата обращения 17 декабря 2016. Архивировано 17 декабря 2016 года.