Badra Gunba has officially assumed the position of president of Abkhazia, a self-proclaimed separatist region of Georgia that has the support of Russia. The inauguration ceremony took place in the presence of representatives from all branches of government, as well as international guests, including the leader of the separatist South Ossetia, Alan Gagloev, and high-ranking officials from the Russian Federation.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Inauguration Ceremony
At the solemn event, the speaker of the parliament, Lasha Ashuba, delivered a speech, after which Gunba took the oath in the Abkhaz language, placing his hand on the Constitution. The speaker of the parliament presented the new president with symbols of authority, including a standard, a seal, and a saber, which symbolizes the position of Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
Reaction of the International Community
Badra Gunba, who previously served as vice president, won the second round of the presidential elections, receiving about 55% of the votes. The elections have been characterized as illegitimate by the international community, with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada expressing protest against their conduct. Official Tbilisi has also stated that they do not recognize the election results, considering them a gross violation of international norms.
“Georgia considers the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be territories occupied by Russia.”
Abkhazia, which was an autonomous republic within Georgia during Soviet times, declared independence after the war with Georgia in 1993, but no country has recognized its independence. Only after the Russo-Georgian war in 2008 did Russia and a few other states recognize Abkhazia’s independence.