# 2016 Abkhazian local elections

On 3 April 2016, Abkhazia held local elections for the 6th convocations of its local assemblies in all districts except Gali.

## Background

The terms of the 5th convocations had originally been set to expire in February 2015, but were extended on 17 December 2014 by the People's Assembly. On 3 February 2016, the People's Assembly extended elections in Gali District once again, until 12 February 2017, because of the unresolved passport situation.

## Sukhumi

The election for Sukhumi City Council was contested by 82 candidates. Originally, 88 candidates had been nominated but three refused to stand as candidate. Of the remaining 85 candidates, twelve were nominated by United Abkhazia, one by the Abkhazian Railways and the rest by initiative groups. 18 were women. 14 of the candidates were incumbent deputies. All but one of the candidates were successfully registered. Two further candidates withdrew at a later date.

### Results

Turnout was 14,718 out of 39,070 eligible voters (38%). The elections in constituencies no. 21 and 23 were declared invalid, as voter turnout was below 25%. Reruns in these constituencies were held on 29 May. One of the elected council members was a woman.
Results of the 2016 Sukhumi City Council election by constituency (vertical) slanted = incumbent, bold = winner, green = nominated by United Abkhazia, blue = nominated by Abkhazian Railways :
| # | Winner | Losing candidates | Losing candidates | Losing candidates | Losing candidates | Losing candidates | Losing candidates | Not registered |
| 1 | Georgi Shakaia | Dalila Kvitsinia | Daut Nanba | Astelo Adleiba | Astanda Bigvava | | | |
| 2 | Lasha Ashuba | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Inna Kvarchia | Lasha Sakania | Beslan Benia | Appolon Lataria | | | | |
| 4 | Daur Delba | Ruslan Abukhba | Svetlana Laz-ogly | | | | | |
| 5 | Dmitri Marshania | Adgur Kvarchelia | | | | | | |
| 6 | Astamur Kutarba | Joni Kvasia | Leila Dzyba | | | | | |
| 7 | Mizan Zantaria | Raul Bebia | | | | | | |
| 8 | Konstantin Pilia | Marina Galustyan | Aida Khonelia | | | | | Aslan Lomia |
| 9 | Dmitri Gunba | Adamyr Mukba | Dato Kajaia | | | | | |
| 10 | Bagrat Zantaria | Anna Gunia | Aslan Zukhba | | | | | |
| 11 | Semen Bzhania | Aleksei Archelia | Anatoli Kvitsinia | Damir Symsym | Alias Brandzia | | | |
| 12 | Daur Eshba | Vadim Kvachakhia | Georgi Manaka | Denis Tsabria | Lasha Shamba | | | |
| 13 | Leon Gubaz | Murtaz Shamatava | Valeri Bganba | David Papba | | | | |
| 14 | David Mirzoyan | Alkhas Kiria | Beslan Kvitsinia | Beslan Dopua | Beslan Arshba | Raul Kharabua | Enrik Leiba | |
| 15 | Timur Shapkovski | Robert Jopua | Viktoria Gunia | Apsyrt Kanjaria | | | | |
| 16 | Ardashes Ovsepyan | Alkhas Zhiba | Albina Markholia | Arnold Minaia | Eliso Sangulia | Izolda Turkia | Damei Sangulia | |
| 17 | Irakli Kharchilava | Rismag Ajinjal | | | | | | |
| 18 | Joni Smyr | Dmitri Shlarba | Garri Inapshba | | | | | |
| 19 | Narsou Salakaia | Lali Minjia | Zaira Margia | Irina Dochia | | | | |
| 20 | Vitali Chitanava | Gocha Lagvilava | | | | | | |
| 21 | Temur Arshba | Andrei Pogosov | | | | | | |
| 22 | Leonid Gvinjia | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Said Adleiba | Anzor Tvidzba | | | | | | |
| 24 | Roman Tskua | | | | | | | |
| 25 | Denis Inapshba | Alkhas Manargia | Liana Kvitsinia | | | | | |
| 26 | Adamur Lagvilava | Daur Bzhania | Kama Anua | | | | | |

## Gagra District

65 candidates were nominated in 25 constituencies, 6 of whom women. Preliminary turnout was 46%. One of the elected deputies was a woman and only four were incumbents.
The new assembly elected Astan Agrba as its chairman and Aleksandr Tsyshba as its deputy chairman.
Results of the 2016 Gagra District Assembly election by constituency (vertical) slanted = incumbent, bold = winner :
| # | Winner | Losing candidates | Losing candidates | Losing candidates | Losing candidates | Not registered |
| 1 | Arkadi Zhiba | Daur Agrba | | | | |
| 2 | Almaskhan Bartsyts | Adamur Kvekveskiri | | | | |
| 3 | Alkhas Shamba | Ford Chichba | Tengiz Gabunia | | | |
| 4 | Malkhaz Kokoskeria | Nanuli Bagatelia | | | | |
| 5 | Rafael Papazyan | Liana Gezerdava | | | | |
| 6 | Khamurza Ashkharua | Alla Grigoria | | | | |
| 7 | Astan Agrba | Timur Beia | | | | |
| 8 | Denis Bganba | Iuri Khagush | | | | Vladislav Inapkha |
| 9 | Astamur Arshba | Aram Kosyan | | | | |
| 10 | Aleksandr Tsishba | | | | | |
| 11 | Akhrik Bganba | Adamur Tsishba | | | | |
| 12 | Adamur Bagatelia | Maia Pasania | Erast Bartsits | Guram Agrba | Ruslan Kokoskeria | |
| 13 | Revaz Benia | Astamur Mukba | Temuri Kokoskeria | Roman Ketia | Astamur Ketsba | |
| 14 | Adgur Jenia | Teimuraz Khishba | | | | Stepan Shvets |
| 15 | Alias Zhiba | Ainar Inal-Ipa | | | | |
| 16 | Otari Arshba | Aleksandr Sorokin | | | | |
| 17 | Ashkanui Kesyan | Astamur Sergegia | Karine Delenyan | | | |
| 18 | Artush Mesropyan | Alkhas Agrba | Levon Dashchyan | Zaur Dasania | | |
| 19 | Akhra Agrba | Beslan Kvarchia | Mikhail Uglava | Nali Tsugba | Temur Tarba | |
| 20 | Matvei Topolyan | Vartanes Raganyan | | | | |
| 21 | Yervand Ustyan | Nikolai Eksuzyan | | | | |
| 22 | Artur Nagulyan | Stanislav Khishba | | | | |
| 23 | Alkhas Chanba | Sergei Melkonyan | Agasi Tsaturyan | | | |
| 24 | Roman Kharabua | Galust Trapizonyan | | | | |
| 25 | Feliks Jikirba | Arkadi Sarkisyan | | | | |

### Pitsunda

15 candidates were nominated in 9 constituencies, 1 of whom a woman, who was not elected.

## Gudauta District

55 candidates were nominated in 29 constituencies, 6 of whom women. All candidates were nominated by initiative groups. Turnout was reported as 41.5% and 55%. One of the women was elected. Among the elected deputies was long time New Athos mayor Feliks Dauta, who declared that after 13 years as mayor he wanted try his hand at being a deputy.
The new council elected Roman Bazba as its chairman and Inal Tsveiba as its deputy chairman.

### New Athos

13 candidates were nominated in 9 constituencies, 4 of whom women. Of the elected deputies, one was a woman.
The new assembly re-elected Ramaz Smyr as its chairman and Temur Otyrba as its deputy chairman.

## Sukhumi District

28 candidates were nominated in 15 constituencies, 3 of whom women. The election in constituency no. 12 was declared invalid because turnout was less than 25%. Overall turnout was 42% out of 6611 registered voters. Of the elected deputies, one was a woman. All had been nominated by initiative groups.
The new assembly elected Zaur Sangulia as its chairman and Rudolf Tarba as its deputy chairman.

## Gulripshi District

23 candidates were nominated in 16 constituencies, 4 of whom women. All candidates were nominated by initiative groups. Turnout was 4268 out of 11,099 registered voters (39.6%). Of the elected deputies, two were women. The election in constituency no. 7 was declared invalid because two additional ballots were found, it will be repeated on 29 May.
The new assembly re-elected Igor Mikvabia as its new chairman and Andronik Kondakchyan as its deputy chairman.

## Ochamchira District

60 candidates were nominated in 32 constituencies, 7 of whom women. Turnout was reported as 54.4% and 55.5%. Among the elected deputies were 4 women and only about 10% were incumbents.
The new assembly elected Adgur Kvitsinia as its chairman and Omari Shat-ipa as its deputy chairman.

## Tkvarcheli District

30 candidates were nominated in 15 constituencies, 5 of whom women. Turnout was 46.4%. The election in constituency no. 14 (Chkhortol) was declared invalid because the two highest scoring candidates had received the same number of votes. None of the 14 winning candidates were incumbents, 2 were women, 2 had been nominated by Amtsakhara and 12 by initiative groups.
The new Assembly elected Damir Gorzolia as its chairman and Melis Jinjolia as its deputy chairman.