Abkhazia is starting presidential polls today. Over 140,000 citizens
will start voting at 8 am. Early elections in Abkhazia were organized
after the death of President Sergey Bagapsh. There are three
candidates: Acting President Alexander Ankvab, Prime Minister Sergey
Shamba and leader of the Forum of People’s Unity of Abkhazia, Rail
Hajimbu. None of them is leading.
Ankvab and Shamba are considered favourites. Hajimba was the successor
of First President Vladislav Ardzinba. He received 15.4% of the vote
at the elections in December 2009, while Sergey Shamba had over 59%.
Experts say 60-70% of citizens will vote. A second round of voting
will be launched if none of the candidates receives 50% of votes cast.
It would start in two weeks.
Polling stations opened at 8 am and will close at 8 pm. Abkhazians
will also vote in Moscow and Cherkessk. Chairman of the CEC of
Abkhazia Batal Tabagua said that about 6,000 polling cards were sent.
Preliminary results will be announced the next day. A protocol will be
composed within 7 days.
Monitoring of the elections will be carried out by Russia, South
Ossetia, Trans-Dniester, Venezuela, Nauru, France, Switzerland,
Poland, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan, San-Marino and
Mauritania.
