Runoff round in occupied Abkhazia set for March 1

The second round of the so-called presidential election in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia will take place on March 1, featuring a contest between de facto government-backed candidate Badra Gunba and main opposition figure Adgur Ardzinba.

The so-called elections in Abkhazia are not recognized by the European Union, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and most other countries.

According to the de facto electoral commission, Gunba secured approximately 46% of the vote in the first round, while Ardzinba received around 37%. The remaining votes were distributed among three other candidates.

Ahead of the so-called elections, local analysts predicted that if a runoff were to occur, Ardzinba would have a strong advantage, as supporters of the eliminated candidates are expected to back him.