State Duma observers did not find any irregularities in the presidential election that took place in Abkhazia on August 25.
”The elections were not accompanied by irregularities, we have not found any, and we hope that there won’t be any between the first and second rounds, as well as after the second round,“ said Konstantin Zatulin
Konstantin Fedorovich
.
In his opinion, it is important to ensure confidence in the election process. ”Losing the presidential elections in Abkhazia is not the end of a political career, and this is not evidence of contempt for the candidate. All candidates are respected people in Abkhazia and Russia, and we refrain from the usual conversation, which of the candidates is the most pro-Russian, they all have a responsible attitude to Russian-Abkhaz relations,“ noted Konstantin Zatulin.
According to the Central Electoral Commission of Abkhazia, two candidates, current President Raul Khajimba and opposition leader Alhas Kvitsiniya, entered the second round of elections, which may be held on September 8.
According to Konstantin Zatulin, the election of the president of Abkhazia was held in a special atmosphere, ”as it was difficult to say whether there was a strong opposition front-runner since the votes from the opposition were much divided.“
By the time of the election, three or four candidates clearly were intended to participate in the second round: Raul Khajimba, Alhas Kvitsiniya, Oleg Arshba, and Astamur Tarba, said Konstantin Zatulin. However, the Russian politician added that Tarba ”didn’t campaign enough, and in fact the fight for votes took place between three candidates, two of whom passed to the second round.“
Konstantin Zatulin noted that it is difficult to say who will be the winner of the second round. “It is clear that the future of the political elite and Abkhaz statehood largely depends on whether the winner can unite Abkhazia, which was divided in these elections and did not reveal an obvious leader who would far exceed the other candidates in his rating and popularity. The winner will be the one who will be able to attract the votes of those who did not vote for him in the first round,“ said the Russian politician.
