Exclusive Interview: Badra Gunba on Stability, Sovereignty, and Strategic Cooperation

Mass protests, the resignation of the incumbent president, and an early two-round election, over the past six months, political life in the Republic of Abkhazia has been marked by events of significant emotional resonance both within the country and abroad. On 3 March, the Central Election Commission officially confirmed the final results of the election, declaring Badra Gunba the winner with 56.85% of the vote, excluding spoiled ballots and votes cast "against all". In his first interview with Russian media, Abkhazia’s elected president spoke to TASS about whether the internal political crisis has been resolved, the future of the investment agreement with Russia, and prospects for dialogue with Tbilisi.

This interview was first published by TASS news agency and has been translated into English by AbkhazWorld.

— Mr Gunba, congratulations on your victory in the presidential elections. How do you assess the outcome? What does your victory signify, and how do you plan to organise your work?

— Thank you for your congratulations! Indeed, our victory came through the trust of the Abkhaz people. My primary goal as president is to fulfil the promises we made during our election campaign. Our objectives include national development, economic growth, improving the crime situation, and enhancing social welfare for our citizens. These priorities formed the foundation of our election campaign and constitute the essence of our agenda. In this respect, our programme is entirely realistic, and we are committed to carrying it out for the benefit of the Abkhaz people.

— Since November, Abkhazia has faced a rather complex internal political situation. Has the country fully overcome this crisis?

— Elections in Abkhazia are always emotionally charged. You must have observed attempts to disrupt the election process, which, frankly, are outrageous and completely unacceptable. We will firmly address such incidents to ensure that future elections cannot be disrupted, thus safeguarding the people's right to express their will.

Certainly, we must strengthen our law enforcement agencies and improve our approach to political processes in coordination with civil society organisations. I hope the intense emotions that characterised the election period will subside, allowing us all to focus on working for the betterment of our state. Our primary duty is to improve the quality of life for our citizens, rather than hindering their development. In this sense, as the elected president, I fully appreciate the gravity of my responsibilities and intend to act solely in the interests of the Abkhaz people.

— How do you intend to engage with opposition movements, and might their representatives become part of your future government?

— As promised during our election campaign, we will certainly involve individuals from different political backgrounds. The key criterion is their readiness to work for the benefit of our country. It is very important to me to build a team capable of addressing the immediate challenges facing Abkhazia. Moreover, I am open to cooperation with everyone, regardless of their political affiliation. The essential factor is professionalism and the ability to contribute positively to Abkhazia.

— Have you already determined the composition of your team? Who might join it?

— I am currently outlining the structure of my team and identifying those who could make a valuable contribution to our state. My final decisions will be announced after the inauguration.

— Do you plan to incorporate ideas or proposals from other candidates who participated in the elections? If so, which ones?

— Indeed, during the election campaign, we had the opportunity to familiarise ourselves with the programmes presented by our colleagues and opponents. These programmes contain reasonable proposals that we will implement in our country. We will certainly conduct a comprehensive analysis of all the programmes and ideas expressed during the campaign, not only by candidates Gunba and Bigvava (Vice President-elect Beslan Bigvava — TASS) but also by all others involved.

We aim to constructively incorporate these ideas, as our main goal is clear: to build our state and develop our society together.

— During your campaign, you advocated closer cooperation with Russia. However, many politicians in Abkhazia perceive this as a potential threat to the country's sovereignty.

— Our nation’s sovereignty is not at risk, quite the opposite. The Abkhaz people have made tremendous sacrifices for independence, and Russia has supported our people's decision, which has been earned through the sacrifices of thousands of our finest sons and daughters. We respect Russia’s position and its recognition of our independence. The meeting held with Russian officials on 5 March also underscored this mutual respect. This recognition and support align precisely with what the people of Abkhazia have sought for centuries.

— What is the fate of the investment agreement between Russia and Abkhazia?

— You may recall that, even while serving as acting president, I reached out to the relevant authorities, including Russian officials, concerning this agreement. It seems that the public did not entirely understand or accept the agreement as initially proposed. Although there were positive elements included, if society clearly expresses opposition, as a responsible leader, I must heed their opinion. Therefore, I proposed to our Russian counterparts that we should reconsider or halt such decisions in their current form. The voice of our people must guide our actions, and their stance must be respected.

On 5 March, Abkhazia’s President-elect Badra Gunba met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, marking his first official visit to Russia since his election victory.

— During your meeting on 5 March, what priorities did you identify for bilateral relations with Russia?

— Primarily, we discussed our critical energy situation, a crisis impacting the entire country and all our citizens. As you know, we faced severe energy shortages as recently as November, significantly affecting daily life. Addressing these energy challenges was a central focus of our conversation. I requested immediate Russian assistance to stabilise our energy sector and outlined plans for its further development, which we will coordinate closely with our Russian partners to prevent future crises.

Additionally, I raised the issue of the new regulation requiring Abkhaz citizens to exchange their driving licences for Russian licences starting from 1 April. This issue is particularly important given that many Abkhaz citizens depend on the tourism sector and transportation services for their livelihoods. Without an extension or delay in implementing this regulation, many could lose their ability to operate legally, negatively impacting our economy.

Overall, our discussion concentrated on supporting ordinary people, focusing on social and economic aspects. President Putin has always shown concern for individuals facing hardship in our current economic circumstances. Thus, we emphasised social and economic support measures to ensure the well-being of our citizens.

— Have you already decided on the composition of your team? Who might join it?

— I am currently shaping my team. I have a clear idea of who could be beneficial to our state. You will learn of my final decisions after the inauguration.

— Do you intend to incorporate ideas from other candidates who participated in the election? If so, which ones?

— Certainly. Throughout the election campaign, we studied various proposals presented by our colleagues and opponents. There are valuable ideas within these programmes, and we intend to implement them in our country. We will thoroughly analyse all the proposals, not just from candidates Gunba and Bigvava, but from all participants, as our responsibility is to create conditions that benefit every citizen of Abkhazia.

Our primary aim is clear: together, we will build our state and develop our society.

— During your campaign, you advocated closer cooperation with Russia, yet many politicians in Abkhazia perceive this as a threat to national sovereignty. Do you think such fears are justified?

— There is no basis whatsoever for such fears regarding our sovereignty. The Abkhaz people have already determined their future, a future of independent national development. The Russian Federation, on the contrary, has consistently supported this choice, a choice earned through the sacrifices of thousands of our best sons and daughters. We deeply respect Russia’s stance and its recognition of our independence. The meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 5 March reaffirmed Russia’s respectful approach to our sovereignty. We will continue to build inter-state relations, as this has always been the goal of the Abkhaz people throughout history.

— What will become of the investment agreement between Russia and Abkhazia?

— Even when serving as acting president, I addressed this agreement, which sparked considerable public dissatisfaction and controversy. In my view, the issue became partly politicised, partly because our government failed to adequately explain the positive aspects of the agreement. Nevertheless, if our society clearly expresses its opposition to such an agreement, as a responsible leader, I must respect that position. Therefore, I suggested to our Russian partners that we should reconsider the agreement in its original form. They understood our concerns, and this particular version of the investment agreement will no longer proceed.

— Regarding your meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 5 March, what agreements were reached, and which areas of bilateral relations will be prioritised?

— The most critical issue discussed was our severe energy crisis, which significantly impacts the entire country and its citizens. As you know, last November Abkhazia experienced serious electricity shortages, with blackouts lasting up to eleven hours a day. This issue also directly affects national security. I asked President Putin for additional humanitarian electricity supplies and support to stabilise our energy sector. We have a development plan, which we intend to align with our Russian colleagues to avoid similar crises in the future.

We also discussed practical issues, such as the dual citizenship agreement signed earlier, and the challenges posed by Russia’s new regulations requiring Abkhaz residents to exchange their driving licences for Russian ones by 1 April. This issue significantly affects many Abkhaz citizens working in tourism and transportation. Without postponing or adjusting this regulation, our citizens may face difficulties crossing the border into Russia, affecting their livelihoods.

Conceptually, our talks also focused on economic and social development. President Putin has consistently expressed concern for ordinary people, especially given the challenging economic conditions we currently face. Therefore, our discussion primarily revolved around supporting our citizens economically and socially, ensuring their safety, as well as enhancing security for visitors to Abkhazia, which is essential for economic growth and stability.

Certainly, there is an alternative path we could pursue, rejecting external support and attempting to build our economic conditions independently to sustain our statehood. However, that would require decades. Do we have the luxury of time and the capability to develop entirely on our own, disregarding the assistance currently provided by the Russian Federation?

Therefore, I firmly believe that utilising the opportunities offered by Russia is in the best interests of Abkhazia and vital for strengthening our statehood.

— Recognition remains a significant factor in Abkhazia’s development as an independent state. Do you think peaceful coexistence is possible in the future between an independent and internationally recognised Abkhazia, Russia on one side, and Georgia on the other?

— We are recognised by the Russian Federation, for which we sincerely thank President Vladimir Putin, former President Dmitry Medvedev, and the Russian people who supported this decision. We have always maintained warm relations with the Russian state and its people, with whom we share deep historical and cultural bonds. For us, it is crucial to continue fostering close cooperation. Additionally, further international recognition of our statehood can also be advanced through cooperation with Russia, which actively supports our efforts to broaden international recognition. We are deeply grateful for this assistance.

Concerning Georgia, issues relating to interaction and resolving Georgian-Abkhaz relations can only be settled once Georgia recognises Abkhazia's independence and signs fundamental agreements guaranteeing the non-use of force. Moreover, we must be convinced of Georgia’s genuine willingness to take these steps. Sooner or later, our neighbours will inevitably need to understand and accept the reality in which we exist.