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FACTBOX: Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania resigns

The president’s resignation was supported by 28 out of 31 lawmakers who took part in the vote

Aslan Bzhania Dmitry Feoktistov/TASS

Aslan Bzhania

© Dmitry Feoktistov/TASS

SUKHUM, November 19. /TASS/. Abkhazia’s lawmakers have approved the resignation of President Aslan Bzhania, a TASS correspondent reported.

The president’s resignation was supported by 28 out of 31 lawmakers who took part in the vote.

Here are the key facts about the situation.

Voting results

- Following negotiations between the country’s authorities and the opposition, Bzhania tendered his resignation "in order to preserve stability and constitutional order in the country."

- Under Abkhazia’s constitution, the resignation of the head of state must be endorsed by the parliament. A qualified majority is needed to make the decision official.

- The vice president takes over presidential duties in case of the president’s resignation or inability to perform his duties. Next in line for president is the prime minister. If neither of them can act as president, the parliament speaker becomes president.

- The acting president stays in office until the president recovers his ability to perform his duties or until a new president is elected.

- Thirty-one lawmakers took part in the voting, with 28 of them supporting the president’s resignation, one being against, and two ballots being invalid.

New election

- The parliament will decide on when to hold the presidential election next week, lawmaker Dmitry Marshania told TASS.

Situation in Abkhazia

- Abkhazia’s parliament was expected to consider the ratification of the agreement with Russia on the implementation of investment projects in Abkhazia by Russian legal entities on November 15.

- The session was canceled after the lawmakers failed to agree upon its agenda.

- The opposition demanded that the issue be removed from the agenda entirely.

- Later, the opposition demanded Bzhania’s resignation and took control of the government compound in downtown Sukhum, including the parliamentary, governmental, and presidential administration buildings.

- The talks between the authorities and opposition on the night from November 18 to November 19 led to an agreement that Bzhania step down.

- After that, protesters began to leave the government compound.

Closer look at Aslan Bzhania

- Bzhania ran for president in a snap election on August 24, 2014 but lost to opposition leader Raul Khadzhimba (35.91% vs 50.60%).

- On March 22, 2020, he won the presidential election having secured 56.5% of the vote. His closest rival, Abkhazian Economy Minister Adgur Ardzinba, secured 35.42%.

- After his election, Bzhania announced plans to establish closer relations with Russia. He also said he was open to cooperation with the opposition and called for a division of powers between the head of state and parliament.

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