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.

During Alexander Ankvab's presidency, Parliament decided to scrap from the Presidential oath the phrase: Жәлар рылахь соуааит иҧшьоу абри ахақәкы сацәхьаҵны саныҟала — If I deviate from this path, then let me be punished by my peopleDuring a meeting on 16 July 2014, following the Abkhazian Revolution, Parliament decided to restore this phrase.

According to Vice Speaker Emma Gamisonia, the decision to remove the phrase had been taken because it was perceived as a curse, following the premature death of Abkhazia's first two presidents, Vladislav Ardzinba and Sergei Bagapsh.

MP Daur Arshba claimed that the decision had been taken illegally, without the necessary quorum.

[1] On 18 August, the People's Assembly of Abkhazia additionally adopted a bill authored by Said Kharazia and was first proposed by him during the meeting on 16 July, adding the invocation[1][2] Иа Анцәа Ду, суҳәоит Сыԥсадгьыли сыуаажәлари рымаҵ аураҿы амчи алшареи суҭарц!