Group of Political Parties Seek Postponement of Abkhaz Poll

On January 10, a number of Abkhaz political parties and public movements called to postpone upcoming polls just two days before scheduled presidential elections, citing a ?lack of time to organize free and fair elections,? Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported.

The parties calling for the postponement of the elections include the Social-Democratic Party of Abkhazia, Republican Party ? Apsni, Union of Defenders of Homeland, Abkhaz Society of Apsadgil and representatives from Russia?s Liberal-Democratic Party in Abkhazia.

The newly set up public movement public-political movement Aiaaira (Victory) announced on January 10 that the holding of elections on January 12 will be inadmissible, as more preparations need to be carried out.

Earlier, on January 8, the public movement Akhiatsa also announced that holding of elections on January 12 would be inappropriate for the same reason.

Most of these parties are reportedly associated with the outgoing Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba.

On the eve of the elections, reports have emerged in both the Abkhaz and Georgian media that supporters of outgoing President Vladislav Ardzinba, and especially Prime Minister Nodar Khashba, are preparing the public for a possible cancellation of the results of the upcoming presidential election. The reports claim that Khashba is concerned that after elections that would establish Sergey Bagapsh as a president, Khashba would lose his political and financial influence.