Abkhazia will hold early presidential polls on August 26, due to the
death of President Sergey Bagapsh. Candidates Alexander Ankvab, Raul
Hajimba and Sergey Shmba agreed on fair elections.
Sergey Shamba violated the agreement, saying he would not allow others
to win. He promised protests if he doesn't win.
Editor-in-Chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, Alexey Vlasov, was invited to the
Voice of Russia Radio to discuss the elections in Abkhazia.
Vlasov believes that such an aggressive position on the part of Shamba
demonstrates a lack of confidence and recognition of the authority of
his opponent, Alexander Ankvab. Sergey Shamba has been in power since
1992.
The situation recalls the events of the "colour revolutions" in
Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, when oppositions accused the
authorities of violations before the elections. The population will be
ready for protests by the time the election results are announced.
Such technologies are widely used and are familiar. They were
developed in Washington and Brussels and used by oppositions as
support from the West.
Mikheil Saakashvili in Georgia used such technologies to achieve
victory. US diplomats increased the number of visits from Tbilisi
through Ingur. The US would want to find partners in Abkhazia as
revenge for 2008.
Vlasov noted other signs of a break in Sergey Bagapsh's policy. The
party of Sergey Shamba, "United Abkhazia", has been violating the
election agreemets recently. Shamba underlines that the decisions of
his party provoke a negative reaction from the public.
Concerning Russia's position, the state would respect any choice of
the Abkhaz people. All candidates for president are skilled
politicians and patriots. They would not abandon politics, Vlasov
believes. They need to understand that life after the elections does
not end and "burning bridges after themselves", losing the trust of
other politicians and voters, would be unwise, Alexey Vlasov
concludes.
