The president of Abkhazia is the head of state in Abkhazia, a breakaway state recognized as part of Georgia, under Russian military occupation. The position was created in 1994. Before the office of president was created the head of state position was known as the chairman of Parliament between 1992 and the creation of the 1994 constitution. Before the position of Chairman of Parliament, the highest office in Abkhazia was the chairman of the Supreme Soviet. The post would last from the declaration of sovereignty from the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic on 25 August 1990 until the outright declaration of independence on 23 July 1992.
President of Abkhazia
Vladislav Ardzinba was the first de facto president of Abkhazia. A historian by education, Ardzinba led Abkhazia to de facto independence in the 1992–1993 War with Georgia, but its de jure independence from Georgia remained internationally unrecognised during Ardzinba's two terms as President from 1994 to 2005.
Ardzinba in 1996
Reverse side of a 10 apsar commemorative coin minted in 2008 celebrating Vladislav Ardzinba
Ardzinba on a 500 apsar commemorative banknote issued in 2018 celebrating 25 years of the victory on the 1992-93 war against Georgia