Abkhaz Opposition Against Repeat Elections

One of the leaders of the Abkhaz opposition Aleksander Ankvab, who is set to become the unrecognized republic?s Prime Minister in the event that opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh takes over as President, said that the opposition will categorically oppose outgoing President Vladislav Ardzinba?s order to hold repeat presidential elections.

?There is no reason for holding repeat elections. Ardzinba?s order has no legal base,? Regnum news agency quoted Ankvab as saying on November 1.

Following the Abkhaz Supreme Court?s controversial decision to annul the Central Election Commission?s decree that announced Bagapsh president-elect, Abkhaz outgoing President Ardzinba issued an order on October 29 to hold repeat presidential elections within two months.

Late on October 28 the Supreme Court overruled an appeal by pro-governmental presidential candidate Raul Khajimba, who has backing from the Kremlin, demanding the cancellation of the Abkhaz Central Elections Committee?s (CEC) October 11 protocol which declared Sergey Bagapsh President-elect, with 50.08% of the vote; hence the Supreme Court confirmed Bagapsh as the winner of the October 3 elections.

Following the decision, Khajimba supporters stormed the court building and in the early hours of October 29, Judge Giorgi Akaba announced the Supreme Court?s new decision, which overruled the earlier verdict and ordered to hold a re-vote, as demanded by Khajimba. Later on October 29, Giorgi Akaba admitted the court was under pressure by Khajimba?s supporters and the ruling should not be considered valid.

Citing pressure on the Supreme Court, the opposition claims that only the first ruling of the court, which confirmed Bagapsh president-elect can be considered valid.

?According to the Abkhaz constitution, the newly elected President takes over the office after the inauguration. According to the election code the new President?s inauguration will be held on December 6,? Aleksander Ankvab said.