Abkhazia Holds Presidential Election Friday

Posted August 26th, 2011 at 1:30 am (UTC-5)
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Voters in the Georgian breakwaway region of Abkhazia will cast their ballots for a new president on Friday.

The winner replaces President Sergei Bagapsh, who died in May.

The candidates include acting president Alexander Ankvab, Prime Minister Sergei Shamba and Raul Khajimba of the opposition Forum of the National Unity of Abkhazia.

If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, a run off election will be held in two weeks.

Georgian lawmakers have declared the presidential election by Abkhazia illegitimate.

Georgia maintains Abkhazia is still part of its sovereign territory.