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2.3​ ​Opposition’s Bzhania wins de facto presidential contest in Georgia’s separatist region Abkhazia
The presidential election contested by two ex-KGB officers held in the Russia-backed separatist region of Abkhazia in Georgia has been won by opposition candidate Aslan Bzhania.
What the change in president will mean for the breakaway region in terms of its relations with Tbilisi is still unclear, but the winning candidate visibly enjoys significant support from Moscow.
The election was called after a local court declared on January 12 that a runoff held last September was invalid. Its decision was followed by the resignation from the presidency of Raul Khajimba later on the same day, a move smoothed by the diplomatic intervention of Moscow envoys.
According to preliminary results, Bzhania won 51.1% of the vote and his rival Adgur Ardzinba 35.55%.
Bzhania, a Soviet KGB school graduate, has long been considered an Abkhaz leadership hopeful. He was deemed the main rival of fellow ex-KGB officer Khajimba in last year’s race, but he had to quit the contest after being poisoned with heavy metals.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia issued a statement on the election—not recognised by Tbilisi—in occupied Abkhazia. It said the so-called election entirely contradicted the fundamental norms and principles of international law and blatantly violated Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The so-called election represents yet another futile attempt to legitimise the ethnic cleansing, the ongoing illegal occupation and factual annexation process in Abkhazia region,” it added.
2.4​ ​Georgia’s parliament confirms controversial supreme court head
Georgia’s parliament confirmed Nino Kadagidze as the new head of the country’s supreme court for a 10-year term with 82 votes in favour, although opposition lawmakers did not attend the vote, Civil.ge announced​ ​on March 17.
A group of NGOs protested against the appointment. They claimed that Kadagidze is a member of a “clan” that controls the functioning of the judiciary in Georgia and uses its influence and power to prevent any judicial reforms.
Kadagidze will become the second female chairperson of the court. She is to replace Nino Gvenetadze, who resigned last August citing “health-related problems.”
On March 13, the Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary, a group uniting over 10 Georgian civil society organisations, released ​a
8​ GEORGIA Country Report ​April 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com