Veche in Gagra: Abkhazia prepares to receive international election observers
The Central Election Commission of Abkhazia expects about 70 international observers at the upcoming presidential election, member of the Central Election Commission Alyas Brandziya told Izvestia. In particular, specialists from the Russian Federation, Transnistria and South Ossetia have been invited. The situation in Abkhazia has so far been calm despite the protests in November, which resulted in the resignation of former president Aslan Bzhania. However, the republic is now experiencing an energy and economic crisis, which increases the risk of unrest in society, experts believe. Whether relations between Sukhum and Moscow can change after the vote - in the material of "Izvestia".
Preparations for the elections in Abkhazia
The CEC of Abkhazia expects about 60-70 international observers at the upcoming presidential elections to be held on February 15, member of the Central Election Commission Alyas Brandzia told Izvestia.
- The CEC has invited its colleagues from the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the Republic of South Ossetia, and the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic. We expect about 60-70 observers from different countries. Now we are preparing, everything is in accordance with the plan, everything is going on normally," he said.
It should be noted that this year the Central Election Commission of Abkhazia will open two polling stations in Russia and one in Turkey.
The winner will be the candidate who has received 50% and one vote from the total number of those who filled in the ballots. If no candidate receives such support, the CEC organizes a run-off vote for the two contestants with the highest results. The second round is held no later than within two weeks.
Now six initiative groups for nomination of candidates for the post of president are registered in the republic. Among the candidates: acting president Badra Gunba, former trade representative of Abkhazia in the Russian Federation Oleg Bartsits, leader of the opposition public organization "Abkhazian People's Movement" Adgur Ardzinba, former chairman of the Control Chamber Robert Arshba, chairman of the board of the Black Sea Development Bank Adgur Hurkhumal. Also former Deputy Prime Minister Shamil Adzinba was nominated at the congress of the People's Party of Abkhazia.
By the way, former president Aslan Bzhania said that despite his resignation he would again take part in the next elections. However, he is not on the list of candidates.
Why early elections were called
Early elections will be held several months after the resignation of Aslan Bzhania. He decided to resign on November 19 amid the protests that began in the republic. In addition to him, the prime minister and the head of the state security service also resigned.
Unrest in Abkhazia began on the night of November 12 after the detention of several opposition politicians. On November 15, the Abkhazian parliament was to consider ratification of the agreement allowing Russian companies to implement investment projects on the territory of Abkhazia. It was signed earlier by the head of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Reshetnikov and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Abkhazia Kristina Ozgan. Opposition activists were against it, fearing that investors from Russia could force local entrepreneurs out of the Abkhazian market. As a result of protests on December 3, the Abkhazian parliament rejected ratification of the investment agreement with Russia.
It is noteworthy that later the Abkhazian opposition did allow conclusion of a new investment agreement with Russia after the presidential elections, but only after finalization of the document. One of the compromises could be an increase in the investment target of several billion rubles in the project, which will not be subject to almost any taxes, except for halved VAT. The previous investment agreement provided for a minimum threshold of 2 billion rubles.
It is important to note that the protests in Abkhazia were not anti-Russian. Sukhum even asked Moscow to help with humanitarian supplies of electricity, as the republic is currently experiencing an energy crisis.
Can protests be repeated in Abkhazia?
Russia expects Abkhazia to fulfill allied obligations, including creating conditions for investment at the legislative level. "Obviously, allied relations presuppose a balance of mutual obligations," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized.
Moscow is Abkhazia's main foreign policy partner. In this regard, regardless of the results of the voting in the republic, little will change in relations with Russia, Vadim Mukhanov, head of the Caucasus sector of the IMEMO RAS, tells Izvestia.
- Whoever wins the presidential election in the republic will have to communicate with Russia and make concessions amid the socio-economic crisis that is currently affecting Abkhazia," he says.
Against the backdrop of this crisis, tensions are being felt in society, which may later lead to unrest again, believes Dmitry Sidorov, head of the Department of Foreign Regional Studies at Moscow State Linguistic University. However, the upcoming elections are the result of past unrest, and the population of Abkhazia, on the contrary, is ready for a new leader. Therefore, it is unlikely that there will be large-scale protests during the voting, believes Vadim Mukhanov.
