Dmitry Marshan, head of the so-called Abkhazia Central Election Commission, announced that Badra Gunba secured 54.73% of the votes in the runoff, defeating Adgur Ardzinba, former economy chief of the separatist administration, who got 41.54%.

The acting leader of Abkhazia has won a presidential election in the breakaway Georgian region, state media said on Sunday, months after his predecessor was driven from office following protests over an investment deal with Russia.

By bne IntelliNews Badra Gunba claimed victory over his opponent Adgur Ardzinba in the second round of presidential polls in the Russia-backed Georgian region of Abkhazia on March 1. Rivals Gunba and Ardzinba represent two polarised political camps that have alternately held power in the Abkhaz government for the past two decades.

Pro-Russian politician Badra Gunba was declared the winner of the runoff presidential election in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, officials said Sunday. Abkhazia is recognised by most of the world as Georgian territory but has been under de facto Russian control since a brief 2008 war between Georgia and Russia.