Abkhazia gets
ready for the next presidential elections scheduled for December 12.
They will be different from all previous Abkhaz elections because are
the first after last year's launch of the international recognition of
independence of the republic. The situation, in which Abkhazia
came close to its next test of political maturity, can hardly be called
stable. I remember at the end of this spring some forces heavily padded
anti-Russian attitudes in the social environment of Abkhazia. At the
same time the political situation is unlikely to be recognized as
"tense", as is rumored in some opposition circles of both Abkhazia, and
Georgia. Those who managed to get into Abkhazia between the last
year's August events in South Ossetia and today, clearly see quite
different things: of course, democracy is taking deeper roots, and many
in the republic want real change, a powerful advance. But no one is
ready to sacrifice the main achievement - the independence of the
country - to their expectations and aspirations. On November 2 was
completed the process of nominating presidential candidates. From 3 to
12 November was held their registration, when the candidates took the
exam on the knowledge and possession of the official language of the
republic. November 6, in Abkhazia, in the Central Election Committee
was held a meeting of the Language Commission, three potential
presidential candidates - Beslan Butba, Zaur Ardzinba and Vitaly Bganba
passed an examination on the Abkhazian language, two - S. Bagapsh and
former vice-president Raul Khajimba, considering that during the
election campaign in 2004 already demonstrated a good knowledge of the
Abkhaz language, were exempted from the exam, but both expressed a
desire to voluntarily come to the commission and to undergo testing. S.
Bagapsh and member of the opposition B. Butba are nominated by the
party "United Abkhazia" and the Party of Economic Development of
Abkhazia (ERA). R. Khajimba, Z. Ardzinba and B. Bganba are nominated by
initiative groups. The candidates have chosen their deputies. With S.
Bagapsh ballots a candidate for vice-president, Alexander Ankvab, who
on Nov. 12 was released by the President by the Prime Minister
especially for participation in the election campaign; with B. Butba -
former Interior Minister Almasbey Kchach. V. Bganba is paired with the
historian David Dasania; R. Khajimba - with the director of the
Abkhazian Institute of Humanitarian Studies Vasily Avidzba and Z.
Ardzinba - with the former head of the Administration of the Ochamchira
district Khrips Dzhopua. In short, everything in a proper fashion.
Hardly anyone will be able to question the fact of the democratic
electoral process in Abkhazia. The more so - its legitimacy.
Unfortunately, not everything is so smooth. Amid the growing
militarization of neighboring Georgia, the reorganization and
rearmament of its armed forces, with overactive help of the United
States and NATO, there are serious concerns that if the West will not
frustrate the current presidential elections, then it will at least
seriously try to interfere. Oct. 28, new U.S. Ambassador to
Georgia John Bass in an interview with the TV-channel "Rustavi-2"
emphasized that Washington's policy toward Georgia remains unchanged:
the United States supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of
Georgia. However, in subsequent words J. Bass hinted that the U.S.
would not want another war: "First of all, Georgia must develop its own
approach in resolving territorial conflicts, and this requires from
Georgia to become a country of prosperity and economic development". But
no one has proved that it is easier to keep the defense in the
information and propaganda war than in usual one. Since November 2, the
radio station "Svoboda", which, we recall, is funded by the U.S.
Congress, announced the launch of its subversive radio broadcasts in
parts of the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. As announced,
it will broadcast in Russian from the headquarters in Prague; the
programs will be prepared by "journalists from two unrecognized
republics, as well as from Russia and Georgia". Daily one-hour program
"Echo of the Caucasus" through the radio "Mtsvane Talga" ("Green Wave")
will cover part of the Gali district, as well as some parts of South
Ossetia. It was promised that simultaneously would also commence
working a new website through which it will be possible to listen to
the transmissions. Behind all this stands representative of "Radio
Svoboda" David Kakabadze. At the same time from Tbilisi followed a
statement that since 2010 starts working the Georgian satellite TV
channel in Russian - on the basis of the Public TV of Georgia. Its
primary audience, as planned by the Georgian side, should be the
national minorities of the Northern Caucasus: the channel will be
available in all its regions. "Persons" of the channel would become the
widow of former Chechen separatist leader Alla Dudayeva, as well as
director of the Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations Oleg
Panfilov, who has citizenship of Georgia and named in the media one of
the most active members of Georgia's special propaganda "on Russia's
audience".
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