Acting Abkhaz PM: Court to Have Final Say on Elections

Acting Prime Minister of unrecognized Abkhazian Republic Nodar Khashba said on October 12 that the Supreme Court of the breakaway region ?will have final say on [October 3 presidential] elections.?

Nodar Khashba, who was appointed as the Prime Minister after the crisis following the elections, was speaking during the meeting with the representatives of the Abkhaz intelligentsia in Sokhumi. He called the Abkhaz people to keep calm and stability.

The Abkhaz Central Election Commission announced opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh as the president-elect. However, outgoing Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba condemned the decision as illegal, saying that current situation might ?lead to bloodshed.?

The Supreme Court will discuss on October 14 appeal of the pro-governmental candidate Raul Khajimba, who demands repeat elections in Abkhazia.