Opinion: 'An attempt to make Abkhazia’s residents feel part of single political space with Russia'
Abkhazia is actively preparing for Russia’s State Duma elections, which will take place on 20 September 2026. Most Abkhazia residents hold dual Abkhaz-Russian citizenship, which gives them the right to vote in the elections.
Russia will open 319 polling stations in 152 countries for citizens voting abroad. 35 of them — more than 10% — will open in Abkhazia.
Many people think this is excessive for a small republic with a population of 250,000.
One of those who objects is Akhra Bzhania, a prominent Abkhaz blogger and public figure. He believes that the “excessive” number of polling stations and the active election campaign aim to create a sense among Abkhazia’s residents that they somehow “belong” to Russia.
Akhra Bzhania: “There is a standard procedure for people with dual citizenship who vote abroad.
Usually, two or three polling stations open, plus a polling station at the consulate or embassy. That’s it.
Abkhazia cannot use its budget to cover the costs of holding a constitutional event of a foreign state. That makes no sense.
If someone argues that the Russian side is paying for the campaign, that is even worse!
Let me explain why. Fifty or 60,000 votes from Abkhazia will have no impact on the overall balance of parties in the State Duma.
This means the election campaign here must serve a different, ideological purpose — to create a sense among Abkhazia’s citizens that they share a single political and administrative space with Russia. And from there, a common state is not far away.”
I have no doubt that some Abkhaz citizens with dual citizenship care deeply about the differences between the programmes of Russian political parties. For them, State Duma elections are therefore not only a civic but also a political act.
But in that case, they can plan ahead and vote in Sochi, Krasnodar or Moscow, as Russians living in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and elsewhere do.
Yet our entire republic is covered with banners urging people to vote for a government body of another country! We plan to open 35 polling stations, just as we do for our own presidential elections!
It seems strange to me — and not only to me — and out of line with the status of our state and the level of Abkhaz-Russian relations.”
The terminology, place names and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this website.
Abkhazia prepares for Russia’s State Duma elections
