The State of Adzhatia is a parliamentary republic. The legislative is formed by the Dume (Думча), which has 160 members. The executive consists of the president and the government, the latter of which is headed by a prime minister. Since the president has a largely ceremonial function, the largest amount of political power is invested in the prime minister. Presidential and parliamentary elections are held every four years.
History
The Adzhatian A.S.S.R. was officially founded on 1 December 1950. Miheĺ Iĺicśŭn was appointed Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet ('President'). Not many eventful things happened in Adzhatia until 1979, when Miheĺ Iĺicśŭn openly requested the promotion of the A.S.S.R. into an S.S.R. Since however S.S.R.'s had the (theoretical) constitutional right to secede from the Soviet Union, the request was declined out of fear that the strategical island with its large military capacity would gain independence and fall into the hands of NATO.
Miheĺ Iĺicśŭn was replaced as Chairman of the Presidium in 1982. His successor Vadim Erkŏhśŭn died however unexpectedly after two years and Miheĺ Iĺicśŭn was restored to power, only for himself to die in 1986. His brother Pjotaŕ Iĺicśŭn was appointed Chairman of the Presidium. Under his rule, nationalist movements gained influence and lead the country into independence in 1990 and 1991. Pjotaŕ Iĺicśŭn however died in the process.
The newly independent country elected Miheĺ Pjotarśŭn, Pjotaŕ Iĺicśŭn's son, as its first president. Soon however, he provd somewhat dictatorial and although elections were organised regularly and human rights weren't violated on a large scale, it seemed to be impossible to elect someone else as president, and nothing significant changed during his rule from 1990 to 2004. Miheĺ Pjotarśŭn was deposed in what seemed a short revolution, but it turned out later that he had been bought out. Due to this, several coup d'états took place in the two years that followed, with one party even turning the country in a constitutional monarchy for ten days. The climax of this situation took place in November 2005, after which the republic was restored.
In 2006, the current constitution was adopted, in which the role of the head of state (president) was reduced to a largely ceremonial one. The head of government (prime minister) became the main figure of the executive power.
The Dume
The legislative power is formed by a unicameral parliament, the Dume (Думе 'Parliament' or Думча 'The Parliament') which consists of 160 members. 115 of those are elected at least every four years by proportional representation. The other 45 are elected by means of a district system, using the Single Transferable Vote system. While the 115 proportionally elected members of parliament can be sacked before the end of their four year terms, this is not possible for the 45 regionally elected members: their mandates expire after four years and none of the representatives elected by regional representation can be elected in the same manner again. They may however be re-elected for one of the 115 proportional seats. Should a regionally elected member of the Dume die or resign, he will not be replaced but until the next elections for the regional seats.
The Judiciary
The present judicial system of Adzhatia took its form after a series of changes to the constitution and other laws between 1991 and 2006. There are Courts of First Instance (Прање Інстанціаіса Ґове), a Court of Appeal (Апелаціан Ґофцу), a Supreme Court (Мапѳішт Ґофцу), and a Constitutional Court (Кенстітуціан Ґофцу). The Supreme Court is divided in a civil and a criminal section.
Every district has a Court of First Instance, with small annexes in remote villages; these may only treat minor cases. The Supreme and the Constitutional Courts are both in Ashtinok, but the Court of Appeal is located in Kercei. Normal judges are appointed for life by the president after being nominated by the Special Commission of Magistrates; the president cannot choose and appoint candidates of his own choice.
The Constitutional Court consists of seven judges; two are directly appointed by the Special Commission of Magistrates, two by the president, two by the Dume and one by the district governors together. The judges of the Constitutional Court are appointed for life in principle, but after ten years a judge may be removed if three of the four parties that appoint the judges for the Constitutional Court (i.e. the Special Commission of Magistrates, the president, the Dume, and the district governors together) find that a judge is no longer serving the country's best interest. A judge may decide to step down for health reasons at all times.
There is an ongoing public debate whether or not the two remaining members of the Constitutional Court that were appointed before the 2004 revolution should be replaced, as both the Dume and the Special Commission of Magistrates were in practice heavily influenced by the president. However, the judges appointed in 1998 were allowed to remain on their posts after ten years; by 2020, there were only two of them left.
The current seven judges of the Constitutional Court are:
- Aśvĕĺ Eśka (since 1998, appointed by the Dume)
- Konstantiń Ĕćuńź (since 1998, appointed by the Special Commission of Magistrates)
- Konstantiń Popŏv (since 2007, appointed by the Dume)
- Đĕdrik Lulije (since 2007, appointed by President Grigeŕ Maććok)
- Albert Popuvănskie (since 2007, appointed by the district governors)
- Feliks Mĕśićek (since 2013, appointed by the Special Commission of Magistrates)
- Viktoŕe Treśiħin-Ŕŭnak (f) (since 2016, appointed by President Kataŕine Matuś-Ħememiemei)
Administrative division
Since 1 September 2013, Adzhatia has been divided in twelve districts (краізж, singular краіс), which replaced the nine districts that had existed since the country's independence. Although the districts have their own parliaments that are elected through regular elections, they are governed by District Governors, who are appointed by the Minister of Domestic Affairs. The District Governors appoint the members of the District Government; these members can be dismissed by a majority of their District Parliaments, whereas the District Governor can only be sacked by the Minister.
| District |
Capital |
Governors |
In office |
| Kŏpunceźiś Krais |
Aśtinok |
Juvan Aćańuk (S)
Vladimiŕ Kristjanson (S)
Elene Balakausok (A, f) |
2013 - 2018
2018 - 2023
2023 - |
| Văŕtiaisa Krais |
Kosegińdrăt |
Ereh Vantanen (A)
Karoĺ Śugviŕ (A)
Igoŕ Śveinśŭn (S) |
2013 - 2014
2014 - 2020
2020 - |
| Ćandeisa Krais |
Huśte |
Karoĺ Raikonen (S)
Ĺŭdmiĺĺe Lacaŕ-Ozereź (S, f) |
2013 - 2023
2023 - |
| Kerceźiś Krais |
Kercei |
Kataŕine Prac-Lukaśevskie (A, f)
Ŭria Oðurvei (S) |
2013 - 2017
2017 - |
| Pruteźiś Krais |
Pruteilăć |
Elene Śaporŏv-Maðiasśŭn (S, f)
Isăk Toŕŕek (S) |
2013 - 2015
2015 - |
| Ŭceisa Krais |
Alidaŕ |
Aśvĕĺ Bukaćĕvskie (S)
Bohatiŕ Ceivek (B) |
2013 - 2017
2017 - |
| Śaiń Ćŭŕdveźiś Krais |
Ćŭŕdveź |
Nikola Tercvićei (A)
Jukkid Barħcek (S, f)
Ħarman Juvanśŭn (S) |
2013 - 2016
2016 - 2021
2021 - |
| Drezeń Ćŭŕdveźiś Krais |
Orvŭb |
Ăŕseń Beĺĺik (Ŏ/Ĕ)
Nikita Źeŕbacei (A) |
2013 - 2023
2023 - |
| Drezeń Valaźiś Krais |
Barhveź |
Anatoĺ Kolodub (A)
Konstantiń Tărpa (S) |
2013 - 2023
2023 - |
| Ĕnćev Valaźiś Krais |
Ħŭŕć |
Astrid Kŭćma (B, f)
Irine Varcħvavei (S, f) |
2013 - 2022
2022 - |
| Śaiń Valaźiś Krais |
Ŏvanalăć |
Nikita Cħvort (A)
Naemie Ŭćańśvei-Kĕcĕmei (S) |
2013 - 2023
2023 - |
| Driă Sarăm Krais |
Takaĺ |
Vitaĺ Matuś (A)
Valeŕ Śŏdź (B) |
2013 - 2019
2019 - |
|
|
Current seat division of the Dume
The last elections for the 115 proportional seats of the Dume took place on
15 May 2021; the next elections will take place no later than 10 May 2025.
The last elections for the 45 regional seats of hte Dume took place on
24 September 2022; the next elections will take place on 26 September 2026.
| party ('(r)' = ruling party) |
prop. '21 |
reg. '22 |
total |
| Secializdźiś (r) |
socialdemocrats |
50 |
19 |
69 |
| Bloc-Ħĭnzei |
conservatives |
19 |
18 |
37 |
| ĔAP (r) |
centre-left, Europeanists |
22 |
1 |
23 |
| AVŎD |
liberals |
13 |
2 |
15 |
| NKP |
communists |
4 |
1 |
5 |
| DZ-P |
environmentalists |
2 |
|
2 |
| IA |
Pro-Russians |
2 |
|
2 |
| PDA |
conservative christians |
2 |
|
2 |
| TF |
far right populists |
1 |
|
1 |
| Regional parties |
mixed |
|
|
4 |
| TOTAL |
115 |
45 |
160 |
Leaders and Heads of State of Adzhatia
Before 1990, the leader of the Adzhatian A.S.S.R. was
known as the 'Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme
Soviet of the Adzhatian A.S.S.R.' When the country became
independent in 1990, the Heads of State had several
designations: 'President of the Adzhatian Republic',
'Head of the Adzhatian State', 'King of Adzhatia', and
finally 'President of the Adzhatian State'. In the table
below, these are indicated with 'cpss', 'par', 'has', 'k',
and 'pas'.
According to the 2006 constitution, the President of the
Adzhatian State is elected by the Adzhatian people in one
round of voting, in which the voters may give up to five
preference votes (or less, if there are less than five
candidates). If, after counting the first preference votes,
no candidate has obtained more than 50% of the votes, the
candidate with the least amount of votes will leave the
race and the second preference votes of the first preference
votes that were in favour of that candidate, will be
distributed among the other candidates. This procedure is
repeated until a candidate has obtained more than 50% of
the votes.
| Leader or Head of State |
took office |
left office |
party |
| A |
Miheĺ Iĺicśŭn |
01 12 1950 |
29 03 1982 |
AKP |
| B |
Vadim Erkŏhśŭn |
29 03 1982 |
17 07 1984 |
AKP |
| (A) |
Miheĺ Iĺicśŭn (2nd term) |
18 07 1984 |
09 03 1986 |
AKP |
| C |
Pjotaŕ Iĺicśŭn |
13 03 1986 |
27 09 1990 |
AKP |
| 1 |
Miheĺ Pjotarśŭn (par) |
02 10 1990 |
18 06 2004 |
AKP |
| 2 |
Ereh Ħĭnzei (par) |
08 08 2004 |
09 06 2005 |
AVŎD |
| 3 |
Ăŕva Ośŕoncei (has) |
09 06 2005 |
19 11 2005 |
'Opposition' |
| 4 |
Miheĺ I (k) |
19 11 2005 |
29 11 2005 |
- |
| (2) |
Ereh Ħĭnzei (par, 2nd term) |
29 11 2005 |
07 10 2006 |
AVŎD |
| 5 |
Grigeŕ Maććok (pas) |
07 10 2006 |
09 10 2010 |
- |
| 6 |
Ăŕva Bekina (pas) |
09 10 2010 |
11 10 2014 |
- |
| 7 |
Kataŕine Matuś-Ħememiemei (pas, f, 2x) |
11 10 2014 |
08 10 2022 |
AVŎD |
| 8 |
Astrid Kŭćma (pas, f) |
08 10 2022 |
incumbent |
B-Ħ |
Prime Ministers of Adzhatia
The office of prime minister was created in 2004,
but abolished between 9 June and 19 November 2005.
| Prime Minister |
took office |
left office |
party |
| 1 |
Valentiń Lăńkaĺ |
18 06 2004 |
07 06 2005 |
AVŎD |
| 2 |
Pekka Cirpăń |
07 06 2005 |
09 06 2005 |
AVŎD |
| 3 |
Ăŕva Ośŕoncei |
19 11 2005 |
29 11 2005 |
'Opposition' |
| - |
Adriań Hićrecei (acting) |
30 11 2005 |
14 03 2006 |
- |
| 4 |
Ŕanije Erijeź (f, acting until 30/09/2006) |
14 03 2006 |
21 10 2007 |
Sec. |
| 5 |
Ereh Ħĭnzei |
21 10 2007 |
16 04 2010 |
B-Ħ |
| (4) |
Ŕanije Erijeź (f, 2nd term) |
16 04 2010 |
13 09 2011 |
Sec. |
| 6 |
Galine Pańńiub-Koka (f) |
13 09 2011 |
29 09 2011 |
ĔŚ |
| - |
Ăŕva Tŭle (acting) |
29 09 2011 |
30 12 2011 |
AVŎD |
| 7 |
Eigĕń Hameen (3 terms) |
30 12 2011 |
14 08 2013 |
Sec. |
| 14 08 2013 |
20 05 2016 |
| 20 05 2016 |
31 08 2017 |
| - |
Vitaĺ Ăħcevei (acting) |
31 08 2017 |
12 09 2017 |
Sec. |
| (4) |
Ŕanije Erijeź (f, 3rd & 4th terms) |
12 09 2017 |
15 06 2021 |
Sec. |
| 15 06 2021 |
incumbent |
The Government
Currently, the government is a coalition of Secializdźiś
(S) and Ĕrobaće-Adźaće Partića (Ĕ),
which has been in office since 15 June 2021. It consists of the
following ministers:
Ŕanije Erijeź (S) - Prime Minister
Seńie Burćak-Vecħevei (S) - Minister of Domestic Affairs
Beris Akaććik (Ĕ) - Minister of Defence
Feliks Balakśin (Ĕ) - Minister of Foreign Affairs
Alikśia Dźerdźiĕv (S) - Minister of Economic Affairs, Trade, and Industry
Maðias Ŕaskeź (Ĕ) - Minister of Budget
Ăŕseń Riććek (S) - Minister of Finance
Ŭria Torceń (Ĕ) - Minister of Justice
Erkŏh Muŕgia (S) - Minister of Democratic Affairs
Ărva Kralik (S) - Minister of Public Health
Jukkid Partijek-Ostak (Ĕ) - Minister of Social Affairs
Juŕ Leitićek (S) - Minister of Traffic
Naemie Oleŕ-Berk (Ĕ) - Minister of Communication, Internet, and Social Media
Juŕ Ustinŏv (S) - Minister of Culture and Tourism
Măććeib Gora (S) - Minister of Disaster Management
Orez Taŕćek-Ĺenideź (S) - Minister of Housing
Adriań Ukcveŕ (S) - Minister of Spatial Planning
Śvein-Ereh Maććok (Ĕ) - Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Vere Mateus (S) - Minister of Society and the Environment
Zăre Karmak-Ħaŕŕiuń (S) - Minister of Fisheries
Ăŕseń Păńćenka (S) - Minister of Education
Chairpeople of the Dume
| Chairperson |
took office |
left office |
party |
| 1 |
Ereh Ikijeć |
19 12 1990 |
10 10 1991 |
PŎA |
| 2 |
Vassiĺ Guŕćvei |
10 10 1991 |
12 10 1995 |
AKP |
| 3 |
Grigeŕ Eńńa |
12 10 1995 |
01 06 2004 |
AKP |
| 4 |
Grigeŕ Aśvuei |
01 06 2004 |
27 09 2007 |
Sec. |
| 5 |
Fabiań Ovać |
27 09 2007 |
08 04 2010 |
B-Ħ |
| 6 |
Ăŕva Tŭle |
08 04 2010 |
01 12 2011 |
AVŎD |
| - |
Ilja Juvanśŭn (acting for Tŭle) |
29 09 2011 |
01 12 2011 |
PŎA |
| 7 |
Śvein Ćŭrupa |
01 12 2011 |
06 09 2012 |
Sec. |
| 8 |
Eve Ħrăħ (f, acting until 12/09/2012) |
06 09 2012 |
30 01 2017 |
ĔŚ |
| 9 |
Ćĕnza Jorvak |
30 01 2017 |
03 07 2017 |
AVŎD |
| 10 |
Vladislaf Endis |
03 07 2017 |
incumbent |
Sec. |
|
| |
|