Alexander Ankvab appointed as de-facto Prime Minister of Russian-occupied Abkhazia

Alexander Ankvab has been appointed as the de-facto Prime Minister of the Russian-occupied Abkhazia today, reports RFE/RL.

Until now, Alexander Ankvab was an MP of the People’s Assembly, the de-facto legislative body of breakaway Abkhazia.

He was the de-facto president of breakaway Abkhazia in 2011-2014.

In 2005-2012, six armed attacks were carried out on Ankvab. None of them have been investigated until now.

• Abkhazia’s de-facto President resigns
• Political crisis in Abkhazia, as opposition rallies

The former so-called government of Russian-occupied Abkhazia was led by Raul Khajimba, who was elected as the de facto president in 2019, resigned after facing public pressure.

Presidential elections in Abkhazia were then held again on March 22, 2020, in which Aslan Bzhania won with more than 56 per cent of the votes.