CEC: Bagapsh Leads in Polls

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of the unrecognized Abkhaz Republic announced late on October 5 that it has counted votes cast in all election districts except Gali. According to this data, the opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh garnered 45.7% of the votes while Raul Khajimba, whose candidacy is backed by both outgoing Abkhaz leader Vladislav Ardzinba and the Kremlin, received only 38.4%, RIA Novosti news agency and the Russian daily Kommersant reported.

According to the Abkhaz election code, the presidential candidate should garner more than 50% of the votes to gain a victory in the first round of voting. The results of in predominantly Georgian populated Gali District will be of crucial importance. The CEC have delayed the announcement of the results in the Gali District, citing procedural violations there.

Bagapsh, who has a Georgian wife, is expected to garner a majority of the votes in the Gali District, but his opponent Khajimba claims that the elections in Gali were marred by widespread violations.

The Central Election Commission is expected to gather on October 6 and decide whether to annul the election results in Gali or not. If the results in Gali are canceled a run-off will be required.