Early elections in Abkhazia: without observers from Russia and a plot in Turkey

Early elections of the President of Abkhazia will be held today, February 15. The favorites of the race, in which five people participate, are Badra Gunba, vice—president under President Aslan Bzhania, who resigned under pressure from the opposition, and Adgur Ardzinba, former deputy Prime Minister of the republic, and now the main oppositionist.

Polls conducted by Russian sociologists record the leadership of Badra Gunba, however, the opposition, referring to the large number of people who came to pre-election meetings with Ardzinba, claims that their candidate is gaining the majority. Based on this, observers say there is a high probability of a second round of elections and warn against unrest.

Three other presidential candidates — former chairman of the Control Chamber of Abkhazia Robert Arshba, former trade representative of Abkhazia in the Russian Federation Oleg Bartsits and Chairman of the Black Sea Development Bank Adgur Khurkhumal — have not become a "third force" capable of competing for the presidency, either alone or united. There were suggestions that they would unite, but there have been no statements about this from the candidates yet.

February 14 in The international press center of the Central Election Commission has started working in Sukhumi. The chairman of the CEC Dmitry Marshan said that 152 polling stations have been formed in Abkhazia, united into 35 electoral districts. Two extraterritorial polling stations opened in Russia — in Moscow and Cherkessk. These two sites on the territory of the Russian Federation have been opened since the recognition of the sovereignty and independence of Abkhazia by Russia, said the chairman of the Central Election Commission.

There were disagreements between the Central Election Commissions of Abkhazia and Russia before the elections. Representatives of the Abkhaz diasporas in some cities of Russia made requests to open polling stations for the presidential elections in Abkhazia and in their cities, the CEC of Russia stated that it was ready to help organize them promptly if a request was received from the Abkhaz side. However, the Central Election Commission of Abkhazia stated that it was too late to make such changes to the legislation.

On the eve of the elections, it became known that the third foreign polling station was closed — in Turkey. The country's authorities have banned voting for the Abkhaz diaspora in Sakarya. The Georgian Foreign Ministry earlier sent a note in which it expressed dissatisfaction with the possibility of organizing voting outside Abkhazia. Ankara also prevented the creation of a polling station in the previous presidential elections of the President of Abkhazia due to the fact that Turkey does not recognize the sovereignty of Abkhazia and considers it part of Georgia. However, representatives of the diaspora managed to organize a vote. It was held in Istanbul, almost 2,000 people were included in the voting lists.

The issue of the number of observers from Abkhazia has also become controversial between the CEC of Russia and Abkhazia. Russia. The CEC asked to accredit about 200 people, the Abkhaz side delayed with the answer. As a result, the CEC of Russia stated that the Russian side would not send observers, but wished Abkhazia a successful election.

Sergei Baburin, a deputy of several convocations of the State Duma, came from Russia to Abkhazia to observe the elections at the invitation of the Parliament of the republic. He warned the parties against confrontation during the elections. These elections should show that the Abkhaz statehood has taken place, the country has experience in conducting an election campaign with dignity and in an organized manner, "despite the passions boiling between the candidates," he said.

A total of 200 observers from 25 countries came to Abkhazia — Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Guatemala, Germany, Greece, Dominican Republic, Iran, Spain, Italy, Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Transnistria, Republic of Korea, South Ossetia, Russia, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, France, Chile, Ethiopia.

134,500 people were included in the main voter list.

The CEC plans to announce the preliminary results of the voting on Sunday, February 16, at 12.00.