Sokhumi Says Parliamentary Polls Valid

The March 4 parliamentary elections in the unrecognized Abkhaz Republic are valid as voter turnout exceeded 45%, the Abkhaz Central Election Commission (CEC) reported. 25% voter turnout is needed for valid elections.

A total of 108 candidates were running for 35 seats in the Abkhaz Parliament. According to the Abkhaz CEC there are a total of 129 650 eligible voters. Elections were held based on the majoritarian system in 35 single-mandate constituencies; three of these are located in the Georgian-populated Gali District.

As expected, there are conflicting reports about voter turnout in the Gali District.

RIA Novosti news agency reported, quoting Chairman of the Abkhaz CEC Batal Tabagua, that the elections are valid in all 35 single-mandate constituencies, including in the Gali District.

But according to Georgian sources, the elections were thwarted in the Gali District as local Georgians boycotted the polls.

Interfax news agency reported, quoting officials from the Abkhaz CEC, that a run-off vote will be held after two weeks in 17 single-mandate constituencies where none of the candidates managed to garner enough votes.

Reports say that MPs have been elected in 18 constituencies; five out of 18 are candidates nominated by the opposition parties.

A group of Russian lawmakers from the State Duma, the lower house of the Parliament, were in Abkhazia to monitor elections, which were denounced by Tbilisi as illegal.

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