Abkhazia is in the second round of early presidential elections. What do you need to know about them? New Europe talks about Russian money, the “mimosal” crisis and the decisive voice of Armenians — Novaya Gazeta Evropa

On March 1, Abkhazia is hosting the second round of early presidential elections. The confrontation between Badra Gunba and Adgur Ardzinba is drawing close Russian attention. The parties have been branding each other as “pro-Russian” or “pro-Turkish” candidates for several months now, and Kremlin propaganda has been actively calling for increased control over the unrecognized republic and its residents. Novaya Gazeta Evropa explains how Abkhazia…

Next Saturday, 1 March, a second round of the early presidential elections will take place in Abkhazia. Two names will appear on the ballot papers: former Vice President Badra Gunba and opposition representative Adgur Ardzinba. In the first round, the two candidates received 46.38% and 36.92% of the votes respectively. Gunba won in six out of seven districts as well as in the capital Sukhumi. His victory was recorded in 100 polling stations, whi…