Abkhazian CEC declares opposition's right to hold new referendum

The same question may be put forward to a referendum only two years later; however, the opposition can reformulate it and hold a new voting after collection of the required number of signatures. This was stated by Batal Tabagua, the head of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Abkhazia. The opposition does not rule out the possibility of holding a new referendum on early elections.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 5, in Sukhumi, the opposition held a rally with the demand to dismiss Leonid Dzapshba, Abkhazian Minister of Internal Affairs, and to postpone the referendum. The opposition rally ended with an attempt to assault the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

In March 2016, members of the "Block of Opposition Forces" addressed the CEC with a request to hold the referendum, and the voting was initiated by the political "Amtsakhara" Party, reports Batal Tabagua, the chairman of the Abkhazian CEC.

For the recent time, Abkhazia held a referendum on the people's attitude to the Constitution of Abkhazia was held on October 3, 1999, and since then, the legislation concerning the Constitution was not changed, notes Izida Chaniya, the editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper "Nuzhnaya" (Necessary).

It should be added that on July 9, the opposition refused to take part in the referendum and claimed lack of "conditions for free expression of will of people."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.