‘Opposition leader’ Bzhania to run in snap ‘presidential elections’ in occupied Abkhazia after alleged poisoning attempt

Abkhaz ‘opposition leader’ Aslan Bzhania will run in so-called snap presidential elections in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region after the resignation of former 'president' Raul Khajimba yesterday. 

Bzhania, who was scheduled to run in the ‘presidential elections’ in Abkhazia in September 2019, came back to the region only last week, as he was allegedly poisoned just prior to the race last year. 

Over the past several months he has had to undergo treatment in Russia. 

Bzhania met with Khajimba late yesterday after which Khajimba announced his resignation. 

The meeting came after public protests in Abkhazia with demonstrators demanding the annulment of the results of last year’s so-called presidential elections and the resignation of Khajimba. 

Khajimba had to quit post yesterday. 

In the second round of the ‘presidential election’ in September, Khajimba received 47.39 per cent of the vote, while opposition ‘presidential candidate’ Alkhas Kvitsinia, who replaced Bzhania, received 46.17 per cent.

Kvitsinia claimed the results of the ‘presidential elections’ were invalid given that per the region's ‘constitution’, only a candidate that receives 50 per cent of votes + 1 can be considered the victor.  

People took to the streets on January 9 in Abkhazia, demanding the resignation of Khajimba.

The Abkhaz Supreme Court ruled on January 10 that so-called presidential elections in the region held on September 8, 2019 were illegitimate.  

Earlier today Bzhania thanked Russia for helping Abkhazia settle the “political crisis.” 

Khajimba will not participate in the ‘snap elections’ scheduled on March 22, 2020.