Abkhazian early presidential elections referendum, 2016

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A referendum on holding early presidential elections was held in Abkhazia on 10 July 2016. [1] The referendum was declared invalid due to low turnout (1.23%), after both sides decided to boycott it. [2]

Abkhazia autonomous region in Georgia and breakaway republic which is not recognized internationally

Abkhazia, officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a de facto and partially recognized republic on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, south of the Greater Caucasus mountains, in northwestern Georgia. It covers 8,660 square kilometres (3,340 sq mi) and has a population of around 240,000. Its capital is Sukhumi and it is recognised as a state by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria. While Georgia lacks control over Abkhazia, the Georgian government and most United Nations member states consider Abkhazia legally part of Georgia, whose constitution designates the area as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

Contents

Background

A petition calling for a referendum was started by an initiative group in March 2016, [3] who were required to obtain 10,000 signatures. On 22 April, the initiative group handed over the petition to the Central Election Commission with 19,314 signatures, stating that it had collected 21,226 signatures but had omitted those that were invalid because the information of the signatory was incomplete. [4] The referendum was approved by a decree signed by President Raul Khajimba on 1 June. [1] On 28 June, CEC Chairman Batal Tabagua announced that there would be no polling stations outside Abkhazia. [5]

Raul Khajimba Abkhazian politician

Raul Jumkovich Khajimba is the current President of Abkhazia, having been elected in 2014 after the May Revolution. He was also Chairman of the Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia from 2010–2015. Khajimba previously held the offices of Vice President (2005–2009), Prime Minister (2003–2004) and Defence Minister (2002–2003). He unsuccessfully ran for President in 2004, 2009 and 2011.

Batal Tabagua is the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Abkhazia. He was appointed to the Central Election Commission December 11, 2004 by outgoing president Vladislav Ardzinba and elected Chairman December 14 after his predecessor, Sergei Smyr, had resigned during the crisis that ensued after the October 3 Presidential election. Previously, Tabagua had been Minister for Justice and head of the Ochamchira district administration.

Interior Ministry crisis

In the run-up to the referendum, Interior Minister Leonid Dzapshba gave a speech to officials at the Ministry that angered opposition activists, who claimed Dzapshba had pressured the officials not to participate in the referendum and threatened them with dismissal. On 20 June, three of Dzapshba's predecessors as Interior Minister, Abesalom Beia, Otar Khetsia and Raul Lolua, called upon President Khajimba to dismiss him. [6] On 5 July, some opposition activists stormed the Ministry and demanded i.a. Dzapshba's resignation. As a concession to the protestors, Khajimba suspended Dzapshba for the duration of an investigation into the matter by the Prosecutor General. [7] [8]

Leonid Dzapshba is a two-time Minister for Internal Affairs of Abkhazia, a former Presidential candidate and the former head of the Football Federation of Abkhazia.

Otar Khetsia has twice been Minister of Internal Affairs of Abkhazia.

Raul Lolua is a former Minister for Internal Affairs of Abkhazia.

Results

The referendum was declared invalid due to low turnout (1.23%) as it was boycotted by both the government and the opposition. Of those who voted, a majority was against holding an early election. [2]

Do you consider it necessary to hold early election of President of the Republic of Abkhazia? [1]
ChoiceVotes%
For75049.64
Against76150.36
Invalid/blank votes117–
Total1,628100
Registered voters/turnout132,8871.23
Source: TASS

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Abkhazia to Hold Referendum on Snap Presidential Election Civil, 2 June 2016
  2. 1 2 Expert: Abkhazia referendum outcome - victory of incumbent president TASS, 11 July 2016
  3. ↑ Abkhaz Leader Agrees To Opposition's Demand For Referendum Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 30 June 2016
  4. ↑ Basaria, Dmitri (22 April 2016). "Инициативная группа по проведению референдума передала в ЦИК подписные листы с подписями". Apsnypress . Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  5. ↑ Jopua, Irena (28 June 2016). "Батал Табагуа: за пределами республики избирательных участков не будет". Apsnypress . Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "ЭКС-МИНИСТРЫ ВНУТРЕННИХ ДЕЛ ОТАР ХЕЦИЯ, РАУЛЬ ЛОЛУА И АБЕССАЛОМ БЕЙЯ ПРЕДЛАГАЮТ ПРЕЗИДЕНТУ ОТПРАВИТЬ В ОТСТАВКУ МИНИСТРА ВНУТРЕННИХ ДЕЛ ЛЕОНИДА ДЗАПШАБА". Abkhazia Inform. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "Леонид Дзапшба временно отстранён от исполнения обязанностей министра внутренних дел". Apsnypress. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "Алексей Ломия: речь идет об организации массовых беспорядков". Apsnypress. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
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