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Unrecognized republic of Abkhazia elects president

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  • Unrecognized republic of Abkhazia elects president

    Unrecognized republic of Abkhazia elects president

    Pravda
    10/04/2004 16:28

    Abkhazia determined to cease relations with Georgia and to cooperate
    with Russia

    The election of the Abkhazian president is considered
    successful. According to the information from the electoral committee
    of the unrecognized republic, the turnout exceeded the level of 50
    percent and 70 percent in certain areas of the republic.

    Abkhazian Prime Minister Raul Khajimba, the director of the
    state-owned company Chernomorenegro, Sergey Bagapsh, former foreign
    affairs minister Sergey Shamba, former prime minister Anri Jergenia
    and People's Party leader Yakub Lakoba are running for the president
    of the unrecognized republic of Abkhazia.

    For the time being there is no official information about preliminary
    results of the voting. The data is said to be released in several
    hours. The election took place in 35 electoral districts, at 180
    polls. A small quantity of inconsiderable violations was registered in
    the voting, but they did not show any influence on the result of the
    presidential election, a spokesman for the electoral committee said.

    International observers were not present at the polls, as Abkhazia is
    a self-proclaimed republic. The small country on the coast of the
    Black Sea is considered to be Russia Russia's ally, although the
    international communitydoes not recognize the republic. Observers from
    South Ossetia, Nagorny Karabakh and Transdniestr observed the
    election.

    The authorities of the former Soviet republic of Georgia announced
    that the presidential election in Abkhazia was illegitimate. Georgian
    officials were especially perturbed with the fact that several Russian
    top officials had visited Abkhazia on the threshold of the elections:
    the Russian deputy prosecutor general Vladimir Kolesnikov and the
    well-known singer and businessman Joseph Kobzon. These two public
    personas were not on the territory of Abkhazia on the election day,
    although the Georgian officials think that it was Moscow's token of
    support towards Abkhazian separatists.

    One of the central nominees in the election, Abkhazian Prime Minister
    Raul Khajimba, strongly emphasized the aspect of cooperation with
    Russia in his pre-election campaign. Khajimba told reporters at his
    poll in Abkhazia's capital Sukhumi that he would continue striving for
    the complete rupture of relations with Georgia and for the
    international recognition of Abkhazia. Khajimbaalso pointed out
    priorities of his politics. According to the presidential nominee,
    close links with Russia would be the key aspect of Abkhazia's
    politics. "We've had enough of being friends with Georgia," Khajimba
    said. "Abkhazia will strive for the international recognition as any
    other country," said he.

    The situation in the republic on the election day was quiet, contrary
    to apprehensions. There were a lot of people standing outside each
    poll, but there were no negative occurrences registered. Only three
    police officers were seen on poll N2 in Sukhumi, where three of the
    candidacies decided to vote.

    The situation was quiet even in the most problematic district of the
    republic, which is presumably populated by Georgians - about 60,000
    people stayed to live there after the war between Georgia and Abkhazia
    in 1992-1993.

    Incumbent President of the unrecognized republic of Abkhazia,
    Vladislav Ardzinba, does not participate in the election, although he
    has been holding the post since 1994. According to the republic's
    constitution, Ardzinba had no right to run for the third term. More
    importantly, the president has been having health problems lately,
    which made him pass the authorities to the prime minister. In
    addition, the latest election in the republic was the first election
    held on an alternative basis.
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