Sergei Bagapsh, leader of the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, has won Saturday's presidential elections. Preliminary results say he has won 60 percent of the votes. Judged the favourite throughout campaigning, he has promised the population of the region economic progress and more security.
His opponent Raul Khajimba, a former employee of the KGB, the Russian secret service, has contested the result and said there were irregularities at every polling station.
Although Abkhazia broke away from Georgia at the beginning of the 1990s, Georgia has never recognised its independence. Neighbouring Russia has always acknowledged this. In 2008, conflict in the region led to the breakout of war in both Abkhazia and neighbouring South Ossetia, another breakaway Georgian region.
Photo of Sergei Bagapsh from Wikimedia Commons
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
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