Districts of Abkhazia

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Districts of Abkhazia are seven main administrative regions. They were established in 1923 during the Soviet reform. Each district is led by a Head of Administration, who also serves as the mayor of the district’s capital, except in Sukhumi. The President appoints the Head after consulting the District Assembly. In the past, Heads were often chosen from among Assembly members without formal consultations, and sometimes outsiders were appointed who later joined the Assembly. In 2016, the People's Assembly approved the current method, after debates about electing the Head directly by voters or by Assembly members; in 2015 they voted almost unanimously not to change the system.