No Breakthrough in Abkhaz Crisis

Opposition presidential candidate Sergey Bagapsh said after his arrival from Moscow on November 3 that his inauguration as president of the unrecognized Abkhazian Republic will be held on December 7.

His main rival, pro-governmental presidential candidate Raul Khajimba, who has also visited the Russian capital, however, said upon his return from Moscow on November 3, that there will be repeat elections in December.

?A re-vote is ruled out. I think there will be no repeat elections. I will take over [the presidential] office on December 7,? RIA Novosti news agency quoted Sergey Bagapsh as saying.

?[Repeat] elections will be held in December. At least we hope,? Raul Khajimba said at a news briefing in Sokhumi on November 3.

He said that outgoing Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba has already issued an order over the holding of a re-vote. ?This order should be fulfilled,? Raul Khajimba added.

Ardzinba ordered to hold re-vote on October 29, following a controversial ruling by the Supreme Court, which annulled the Central Election Commission?s decision to declare Bagapsh president-elect, and instead ordered repeat elections. But later a judge admitted he was under pressure by Khajimba?s supporters to adopt this latter decision.