Protesters in Abkhazia captured the administration of President Raul Khadimby. After three days, he resigned

A chain of events

September 8, 2019

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In a partially recognized republic, Abkhazia passed the second round of the presidential election. The current president Raul Hadjimba won , gaining 47.4% of the vote. His rival, the leader of the opposition party of Amtsahara, Alhas Quitsinia received 46.2% of the vote. The opposition did not agree with the election results, indicating that none of the candidates received more than 50%, as required by law.

January 9, 2020

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Participants in the protest in Sukhum stormed the administration of the President of Abkhazia. They demanded that Raul Hajimba resign. The parliament turned to the president with a similar request, explaining it by the need to maintain stability in the country. Hajimba refused to resign and invited the opposition at the negotiating table. The Administration of the President of Abkhazia called what was happening an attempt by the coup.

January 10

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The Sukhum prosecutor's office opened a criminal case of riots on the fact of protests and the seizure of the administration of the President of Abkhazia. Surrounded by Khadimby, they said that the “Ukrainians from the DPR” participated in the assault on the building.

January 11

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The Supreme Court of Abkhazia recognized the illegal victory of Raul Khadimby in the second round of the presidential election. Thus, the court granted the lawsuit of Alhas Quitsinia, who in the elections lost to Hadjimbe 1.2%. The press service of the President of Abkhazia called the verdict of the court illegal and promised to appeal it.

January 12, morning

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The Opposition of Abkhazia for the fourth day holds the building of the presidential administration. The CEC appointed repeated presidential elections for March 22, 2020. The presidential administration did not agree with this again.

January 12, evening

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The assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Vladislav Surkov, who oversees Abkhazia, arrived in Sukhum to resolve the crisis. In addition to him, in the republic is the deputy secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Rashid Nurgaliev.

January 12, a little later

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Several hundred opposition supporters left the Administration of the President of Abkhazia and gathered at the residence of Raul Hadjimby. One of the organizers of ARR Avidzba stated that the protesters went there to hear the president’s response to a resignation request.

January 12, a little later

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Raul Hadjimba resigned the authority "in the name of maintaining stability in the country." When asked about participation in the president’s extraordinary elections, he replied : “Life will show.” The Parliament of Abkhazia will officially accept the resignation of Hadjibma and appoint the acting president on January 13.

Pavel Merzlikin, Olga Korelina