Georgia would not recognize presidential election in Abkhazia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Georgia has protested against the presidential election in Abkhazia treating it as another illegal action directed against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

The voting at the election took place in Abkhazia on August 25. According to preliminary outcomes, the incumbent president Raul Khadjimba, Oleg Arshba, a former deputy foreign minister, and Alkhas Kvitsiniya, the chairman of the "Amtsakhara" oppositional party, gain almost equal number of votes. According to the candidates, the winner will be defined in the second round.

The Georgian MFA has asked Russia to revoke the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and the international community – "to take measures to suspend the illegal processes underway in the occupied territories."

According to Paata Zakareishvili, a political analyst and a former Georgian State Minister for Conflict Settlement, no matter what the election totals, no changes in the Abkhaz authorities' attitude to Georgia can be expected.