People in occupied Abkhazia are motioning for a referendum on holding premature elections for the de-facto president. The statement of the initiative group consisting of 36 persons was submitted to the so-called Central Election Commission on June 27. “Do you think it is necessary to hold early elections for the president of Abkhazia?” - is how the question for the referendum is formulated.
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The initiative for the referendum belongs to the organization of veterans and citizens - Aiaaira. In their statement, it is said that the reason for the appeal to the Election Commission is “the ineffective and anti-national policy of the country's executive government,” which “poses a threat to the state of Abkhazia.”
“We are seeing the destruction of statehood by people who have nothing to do with the right won by the people of Abkhazia through war, to live in a free country, in their homeland, and to rule their own land. We declare that our initiative to hold early presidential elections is dictated by our responsibility and duty to the country, the people of Abkhazia, and the future generations, which should live in an independent state.
We will not let this government carry out such projects as the transfer of Pitsunda (Bichvinta – red.) state resort, the adoption of the law on apartments, the selling of the state energy industry to a private company, and the taking of another multibillion-dollar loan, the repayment of which will burden future generations,” said the organization in their statement.
The mentioners behind the referendum initiative say that despite the rallies and speeches of civil society, certain political parties, and various groups and citizens, the current government does not take people’s views into consideration.
“We can only assume that the demands of the citizens go against the mercantile personal interests of the government. We are firmly convinced that an urgent change of government is needed in Abkhazia. This should be done within the framework of the constitution and in the nearest future,” the statement read.
According to the so-called legislation of Abkhazia, the Central Election Commission should register the initiative group within 15 days. Registration may be refused only if legal requirements are not met. From the moment of registration approval, the referendum initiative group has the right to start collecting signatures. It is required that 10 thousand “citizens” sign the request to hold a referendum.
