SUKHUM, November 28. /TASS/. Delegates in the Abkhazian parliament have decided to schedule the early presidential election for February 15, 2025, a TASS correspondent reported.

"[We hereby decree] to slate the snap Abkhazian presidential election for Saturday, February 15, 2025," they said in a statement.

Abkhazian Parliament Speaker Lasha Ashuba noted that organizing the presidential election will cost 20-25 mln rubles ($185,000 - $230,000).

According to legislator Daut Khutaba, the election will take place on a Saturday because the vote mostly takes place at schools, teachers take part in election committees, and it is convenient to keep Sunday as a day off. Previously, all elections and referendums took place on Sundays, with the spring 2022 parliamentary elections marking the first time when the vote was held on a Saturday.

After heated protest rallies on November 15, Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania and Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab stepped down. According to the constitution, Vice President Badra Gunba assumed office as the interim president and appointed Valery Bganba as the acting prime minister.