Abkhazian PM Confirms He Runs for Presidency

Abkhazian Prime Minister Sergei Shamba confirmed that he would run for presidency. Shamil Adzinba, deputy chairman of the State Committee for Youth Affairs and Sports, said he would run for vice-presidency. The initiative group nominating Shamba has submitted to the CEC candidacy lists and a report of a meeting on the results of the signatures collection. The candidates shall take the Abkhazian language proficiency examination. Three candidates have been nominated to run for Abkhazia’s presidency. Among them are incumbent Vice President Alexander Ankvaba, Prime Minister Sergei Shamba and opposition leader Raul Khadzhimba. The presidential elections in Abkhazia will be held on August 26. Earlier this month, Abkhazia’s Central Election Commission registered a political party, “Forum for People’s Unity of Abkhazia”. On July 2, the party’s Political Council took a decision to support the nomination of Raul Khadzhimba for presidency and Svetlana Dzhergeniya for vice-presidency. On June 28, the Central Election Commission registered the initiative group, which nominated Khadzhimba for presidency. He was Abkhazia’s vice-president from 2005 to 2009.