Voter turnout at almost 44% in Abkhazia elections
SUKHUMI. Aug 24 (Interfax) - Voter turnout in Abkhazia's presidential elections was almost 43.92% as of 2 p.m. Sunday, Central Election Commission Chairman Batal Tabagua said at a press conference in Sukhumi.
He said voter turnout stood at 100% in the Gali district, where about 300 legitimate voters are registered. Over 20,000 residents of the Gali district lost their right to cast votes given their dual citizenship.
As many as 1,310 voters cast their ballots in three international electoral districts: Cherkessk, Istanbul and Moscow.
"I would like to inform you that the Central Election Commission has not received a single complaint," he said, adding that complaints arriving at district elections commissions are considered locally.
Reports said earlier that polling stations opened at 8 a.m. in Abkhazia on Sunday and will close at 8 p.m.. Preliminary results are expected to be announced on August 25.
Four candidates run for president: Abkhazia's State Security Service chief Aslan Bzhania, ex-interior minister Leonid Dzapshba; opposition campaigner, leader of the People's Unity Forum party and parliamentary deputy Raul Khadzhimba, and Defense Minister Mirab Kishmaria. All four have a general's rank.
