Today is inauguration day in Abkhazia

Today Abkhazia will hold the inauguration of its new president, Alexander Ankvab, who will lead the country for the next five years. This day will become a sort of final chord in the intense political strife of this summer. 

Even foreign tourists who visited Abkhazia this summer could feel the atmosphere of election fever. Abkhaz citizens openly discussed their political preferences and expressed their points of view. And these discussions created the impression that Sergey Shamba was the most popular candidate.

As the date of elections approached, it became clear that there were two equally strong candidates and an undesirable second round seemed inevitable. The people were afraid that during this interval between the two rounds Shamba would try to organize the revolution he promised. Shamba’s PR strategy backfired on him: his overconfidence, his pompous agitation posters, the appearance of Tenguiz Kitovani… These mistakes are so crude that one cannot help but wonder if they were made on purpose by shadow PR tycoons.

In any case, the voters chose the strong and modest Ankvab over Shamba. The candidature of Ankvab had his own ‘cons’, but the people believed that he is capable of implementing his promises of economic and social reforms, as well as of continuing strategic partnership with Russia.  

International observers confirmed that the elections were held to the highest standards of honesty and transparency. The voters, as well as the polling station personnel, approached their responsibilities with a great deal of respect. It was clear that Ankvab had won over 50% of the votes already by 9 p.m.

Another important event occurred recently: the Polynesian island state of Tuvalu recognized Abkhaz independence on September 18, becoming the sixth in the world after Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Vanuatu. The pact on establishment of diplomatic relations was signed by Abkhaz executive President Shamba and Tuvalu PM Telavi.

Larisa Tsvijba, exclusively to VK