Electoral offices of two Abkhazian presidential candidates record serious violations during voting

Activists of the electoral offices of the presidential candidates Leonid Dzapshba and Raul Khadjimba report on serious violations recorded during the voting at the presidential election in Abkhazia. Residents of Abkhazia hope that the fate of the presidential election will be decided in the first round, emphasizes Konstantin Zatulin, the Director of the Institute of CIS Countries.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Rafael Ampar, the head of Leonid Dzapshba's office, that some ballots were not signed by representatives of the presidential candidates. Besides, they have also recorded violations at electoral precincts connected to the fact that some ballot boxes were not sealed. Meanwhile, the head of the Leonid Dzapshba's electoral office has added that "the results of the voting may not be affected by the above violations."

Activists of the electoral office of the presidential candidate Raul Khadjimba have also reported on numerous violations connected with the marking of voters' fingers. They have also completed an act of illegal campaigning at one of the electoral precincts.

In Istanbul, the work of the electoral precinct for voting in the presidential election of Abkhazia was stopped by Turkish policemen, stated an official of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Abkhazia. Levent Gümrükçü, Turkish Ambassador to Georgia, has claimed Turkey does not recognize the presidential election in Abkhazia.

Meanwhile, Erkan Kutarba, the Chairman of the Abkhazian State Committee for Repatriation, has stated that the problems at the electoral precinct arose because of a report on expected terror act and that later the work of the electoral precinct was restored.