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| Sergey Bagapsh will have to share powers with his former rival. Itar-Tass photo. |
Sergey Bagapsh’s only contender, leader of the People’s Party of Abkhazia Iakub Lakoba, garnered only about 3,400 votes. Chairman of the Abkhaz CEC Batal Tabagua said at a news conference on January 13 that voter turnout exceeded 58%; hence the elections can be considered valid.
The Chairman of the Abkhaz CEC also said that no complaints that might influence election results were submitted to the electoral commission.
However, widespread violations were reported in Georgian-populated Gali district of Abkhazia on elections day.
Vice-Speaker of the Russian Parliament Sergey Baburin, who observed the presidential elections in Abkhazia, said at a news conference on January 12 that numerous violations were observed in the Gali district. Baburin, who personally observed the elections in the Gali district, said that units of the Abkhaz governmental guard blocked several polling stations and prevented voters from casting their ballots. However, Baburin added that “there are all preconditions to announce the presidential elections as valid.”
After taking the President’s office, Sergey Bagapsh will have to share power with Raul Khajimba, who was Bagapsh’s main presidential rival in last year’s elections, which was followed by a two-month crisis in the region. Last December the once former presidential rivals Bagapsh and Khajimba agreed to share power and participate in new elections on one team.
As a result Raul Khajimba will take over the Vice-Presidential position. After Bagapsh and Khajimba signed powersharing agreement the Parliament of the unrecognized republic approved a law envisaging increased powers of the Vice-President of Abkhazia.
But the law will be enforced only in the event that Sergey Bagapsh is elected President of the breakaway region and Raul Khajimba the Vice-President. According to the law, the Vice-President will be in charge of the defense and security structures of the unrecognized republic, as well as foreign policy.
The Vice-President is entitled to recommend candidates for the position of Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, Interior Minister, Chairman of the State Security Service and Chairman of the State Customs Committee to the President.
In a phone interview to the Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 television Sergey Bagapsh ruled out any possible split between him and Raul Khajimba. However, he said “the Vice-President will not control defense and security structures, as well as the Foreign Policy. He will be just coordinate these directions.”
“According to the Abkhaz constitution, the President controls foreign, defense and security policy,” Sergey Bagapsh added.
He also said that Abkhazia will seek closer ties with Russia. “We will have relations with Georgia based on equal rights, like two [sovereign] states,” Bagapsh added.
Meanwhile, the Georgian Foreign Ministry issued a strong-worded statement on January 12 condemning Russia’s active involvement in Abkhaz elections, actions described by Tbilisi as a “violation of Georgia’s sovereignty.”
Georgia particularly protested against the presence of Russian officials, including Vice-Speaker of Russian Parliament Sergey Baburin, in Abkhazia, who monitored elections there.