TBILISI, March 2 (Reuters) - 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.

Acting President Badra Gunba took almost 55% of the vote in Saturday’s election in the Russia-backed territory, ahead of opposition leader Adgur Ardzinba on just under 42%, Abkhazian state news agency Apsnypress reported, citing preliminary results from the electoral commission.

Georgia, of which Abkhazia is recognised as being part of by all but a handful of countries, called the election “another flagrant violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

In footage published by state media, Gunba thanked voters and said he would work to make Abkhazia “independent, free and prosperous”.

Abkhazia has in recent months been plagued by an electricity crisis, with blackouts blamed on low water levels at a key hydroelectric plant and large-scale cryptocurrency mining, which requires large amounts of energy.