2016 Abkhazian early presidential elections referendum

A petition calling for a referendum was started by an initiative group in March 2016,[http://www.rferl.org/content/caucasus-report-abkhazia-early-presidential/27788330.html Abkhaz Leader Agrees To Opposition's Demand For Referendum] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 30 June 2016 who were required to obtain 10,000 signatures. On 22 April, the initiative group handed over the petition to the Central Election Commission with 19,314 signatures, stating that it had collected 21,226 signatures but had omitted those that were invalid because the information of the signatory was incomplete.{{cite news|last1=Basaria|first1=Dmitri|title=Инициативная группа по проведению референдума передала в ЦИК подписные листы с подписями|url=http://apsnypress.info/news/alias-brandziya-tsik-budet-opredelyat-podlinnost-podpisnykh-listov-v-techenie-30-dney/|accessdate=30 July 2016|agency=Apsnypress|date=22 April 2016}} The referendum was approved by a decree signed by President Raul Khajimba on 1 June. On 28 June, CEC Chairman Batal Tabagua announced that there would be no polling stations outside Abkhazia.{{cite news|last1=Jopua|first1=Irena|title=Батал Табагуа: за пределами республики избирательных участков не будет|url=http://apsnypress.info/news/batal-tabagua-za-predelami-respubliki-izbiratelnykh-uchastkov-ne-budet/|accessdate=30 July 2016|agency=Apsnypress|date=28 June 2016}}

In the run-up to the referendum, Interior Minister Leonid Dzapshba gave a speech to officials at the Ministry that angered opposition activists, who claimed Dzapshba had pressured the officials not to participate in the referendum and threatened them with dismissal. On 20 June, three of Dzapshba's predecessors as Interior Minister, Abesalom Beia, Otar Khetsia and Raul Lolua, called upon President Khajimba to dismiss him.{{cite news|title=ЭКС-МИНИСТРЫ ВНУТРЕННИХ ДЕЛ ОТАР ХЕЦИЯ, РАУЛЬ ЛОЛУА И АБЕССАЛОМ БЕЙЯ ПРЕДЛАГАЮТ ПРЕЗИДЕНТУ ОТПРАВИТЬ В ОТСТАВКУ МИНИСТРА ВНУТРЕННИХ ДЕЛ ЛЕОНИДА ДЗАПШАБА|url=http://abkhazinform.com/item/3994-eks-ministry-vnutrennikh-del-otar-khetsiya-raul-lolua-i-abessalom-bejya-predlagayut-prezidentu-otpravit-v-otstavku-ministra-vnutrennikh-del-leonida-dzapshaba|accessdate=31 July 2016|agency=Abkhazia Inform|date=20 June 2016}} On 5 July, some opposition activists stormed the Ministry and demanded i.a. Dzapshba's resignation. As a concession to the protestors, Khajimba suspended Dzapshba for the duration of an investigation into the matter by the Prosecutor General.{{cite news|title=Леонид Дзапшба временно отстранён от исполнения обязанностей министра внутренних дел|url=http://apsnypress.info/news/leonid-dzapshba-vremenno-otstranyen-ot-ispolneniya-obyazannostey-ministra-vnutrennikh-del/|accessdate=30 July 2016|agency=Apsnypress|date=5 July 2016|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030921/http://apsnypress.info/news/leonid-dzapshba-vremenno-otstranyen-ot-ispolneniya-obyazannostey-ministra-vnutrennikh-del/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Алексей Ломия: речь идет об организации массовых беспорядков|url=http://apsnypress.info/news/aleksey-lomiya-rech-idet-ob-organizatsii-massovykh-besporyadkov/|accessdate=30 July 2016|agency=Apsnypress|date=6 July 2016|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107012953/http://apsnypress.info/news/aleksey-lomiya-rech-idet-ob-organizatsii-massovykh-besporyadkov/|url-status=dead}}

The referendum was declared invalid due to low turnout (1.23%) as it was boycotted by both the government and the opposition. Of those who voted, a majority was against holding an early election.[http://tass.ru/en/world/887403 Expert: Abkhazia referendum outcome - victory of incumbent president] TASS, 11 July 2016

{{blockquote|Do you consider it necessary to hold early election of President of the Republic of Abkhazia?}}

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Abkhazian early presidential elections referendum

Early presidential elections referendum

2016

Abkhazian early presidential elections referendum