Vladimir Putin, the incumbent President of Russia, has secured over 90% of votes in the Russian presidential polls in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, according to local media reports.
Putin obtained 39,427 votes in Abkhazia, making up 94.21% of the total number of votes cast in the region (41,849). In Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, the incumbent Russian President garnered around 17,500 votes, which is 92.8% of all votes cast.
A total of thirty-three polling stations were opened in the two regions, catering for residents of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia who hold Russian citizenship, as well as the Russian troops stationed in both regions.
Tbilisi has condemned the presidential polls in the two regions as “a clear demonstration of the ongoing occupation” of its territories, and “a yet another step towards their factual annexation by the Russian Federation.”