Diaspora will not affect essentially on the outcome of presidential election in Abkhazia, experts say

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Abkhazia has approved the membership of the election commissions that will work outside the republic during the presidential election on August 24. The commissions will service the Abkhazians living in Russia and Turkey.

The early presidential election in Abkhazia was scheduled for August 24 after the resignation on June 1, 2014, of President Alexander Ankvab. Since May 31, Valery Bganba, the Speaker of the Parliament, is the acting president. The CEC has registered the following presidential candidates: Aslan Bjaniya, Leonid Dzapshba, Raul Khajimba and Mirab Kishmariya.

In the opinion of Manana Gurguliya, the head of the Abkhaz state news agency "Apsnypress", the main rivalry will be between Raul Khajimba and Aslan Bjaniya.

According to the Abkhaz journalist and blogger Roin Agrba, the voters in Turkey and Northern Caucasus will give their preference to Khajimba, while those in Moscow – to Bjaniya.

Along with that, the experts questioned by the "Caucasian Knot" believe that the voters outside the republic will not be able to significantly affect the outcomes of the election.

According to Roin Agrba, the Abkhazian electorate "in Northern Caucasus makes about 1500 voters; about 1000 in Moscow; and about 2000 in Turkey."