Bagapsh: Informal Deal to Secure Multiethnic Parliament

Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh said that there is ?a gentleman?s agreement? between the political forces in Abkhazia that will help to elect a ?multiethnic parliament? in the upcoming March 4 elections.

?Officially there are no quotas allocated for certain ethnic groups in the Abkhaz Parliament; but there is understanding, there is agreement at least for time being, and we will not let this [agreement] to be violated. The essence of this agreement is simple: let?s say an ethnic Russian candidate is nominated in one of the [single-mandate] constituencies; several other candidates can also be nominated in the same constituency including by the opposition parties, but let them [other candidates] also be ethnic Russians,? Bagapsh said in an interview to the Russian news agency Regnum published on January 19.

He also said that Abkhazia?s independence agenda will dominate the election campaign, as in previous elections in the unrecognized republic.

?Everyone running for the seats in the Parliament should understand that they are going to the legislative body for this purpose,? Bagapsh said.

The Georgian daily 24 Saati (24 Hours) wrote on January 19 that no major tensions are anticipated between Abkhaz political forces on the eve of the parliamentary elections.

Political groups backing the Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh, involving Amtsakhara, Aitaira (Revival) and United Abkhazia will be challenged during the elections by the opposition Forum of Abkhaz People?s Unity, uniting supporters of Vice-President Raul Khajimba and former Abkhaz leader Vladislav Ardzinba. Khajimba was Bagapsh’s rival in the 2004 presidential elections and came into power as a result of a power-sharing agreement with Bagapsh. 

The newly set-up party Russian Citizens Union will also be running in the elections. This party is hoping for support from ethnic Russians and Armenians, according to 24 Saati.

Inal Khashig, editor-in-chief of the independent Abkhazian newspaper Chegemskaya Pravda, told 24 Saati that the opposition forces have little chances to succeed in the elections.

?Although there is certain disappointment among society over the authorities? performance, the opposition will hardly benefit from this? No one wants a return of the past,? Khashig told the Georgian newspaper.

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