New head of Abkhazia's Government-in-exile appointed, vows support for IDPs

Giorgi Jincharadze has been appointed as the new head of Abkhazia’s government-in-exile, following a formal vote of approval by the Supreme Council. His nomination comes after the resignation of his predecessor, Levan Mgaloblishvili, on 2 June.

Jincharadze, a former Deputy Minister of Education and Culture in the exiled administration, pledged to prioritise the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled the currently Russian-controlled Abkhazia region during the conflict in the early 1990s.

“I know firsthand the issues our displaced citizens face,” he said, promising to improve their living conditions and work towards durable solutions.

He also thanked Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and members of the Supreme Council for their support and confidence.

Before joining the Abkhaz government-in-exile, Jincharadze held various senior roles in public administration, including Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy between 2021 and 2024, and later as a Deputy Education Minister in the central Georgian government.

The government-in-exile, based in Tbilisi since the Abkhaz conflict, continues to represent the region’s pre-war population and operates under Georgia’s sovereignty. Most of the international community recognises Abkhazia as part of Georgia, despite Russia’s backing of the region’s claims to independence.