Abkhazia Presidential Election December 12

Abkhazia voters will go to the polls to elect a President for the 4th time on Saturday, December 12.   The incumbent, Sergei Bagapsh, is running against 4 challengers, including the former Vice President and his rival in the 2004 election, Raul Khadzhimba.  Mr. Bagapsh won a close victory in 2004, but Mr Khadzimba challenged the results. After several months the two rivals ran together on a national unity ticket in January of 2005.  Mr. Khadzhimba ran as Mr. Bagapsh's Vice President.  They won over 90% of the vote.  Mr. Khadzimba later resigned as Vice President.

The other candidates are the port director and businessman Zaur Ardzinba,  Beslan Butba, leader of an opposition party and Vitaly Bganba.

Mr. Bagapsh is running as a member of the United Abkhazia political party.  He should be a strong candidate because after years of isolation and poverty the nation's economy is growing quickly.  Also, in August, Abkhazia concluded a security arrangement with the Russian Federation to provide protection from Georgia.  Since the conflict in South Ossetia last year, Russia, Venezuela and Nicaragua have recognized Abkhazian independence and other nations including Ecuador, Peru and Belarus are considering the move.

Abkhazia has a vigorous political debate and an independent organization, The League of Voters in Abkhazia, monitoring the election.  Russia and other countries are also expected to have election monitors in the country.  There will be several polling stations in Russia where absentee Abkhazian citizens may vote. Abkhazia has about 200,000 people with about 120 - 130,000 potential voters.  A law was enacted, supported by Mr. Khadzhimba, requiring voters to have Abkhazian passports.  In order to carry an Abkhazian passport, the voter must relinquish any Georgian passport.  The Georgian voters primarily reside in the eastern Gali district.  Very few have chosen to give up their Georgian citizenship.  

In Abkhazia all Presidential candidates must be 35 years old but no older than 65.  The candidates for the Presidency must have Abkhazian passports, be fluent in the Abkhazian language and must also be ethnic Abkhazian.  This does not apply to candidates for any other political office.  Abkhazia requires that the winner receive an absolute majority, so if no candidate makes the threshold, there will be a runoff between the top two candidates.