Presidential Election Preparations Near Completion, Says CEC Head

SUKHUM / AQW’A —  The Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Dmitry Marshan, informed members of the Security Council about the preparations for the upcoming presidential elections, scheduled for 15 February.

According to the CEC head:

• Sukhum – 9 electoral districts, 25 polling stations
• Gagra District – 5 districts, 29 polling stations
• Gudauta District – 7 districts, 31 polling stations
• Sukhum District – 2 districts, 8 polling stations
• Gulrypsh District – 3 districts, 16 polling stations
• Ochamchira District – 6 districts, 33 polling stations
• Tquarchal District – 2 districts, 8 polling stations
• Gal District – 1 district, 2 polling stations

Additionally, two polling stations will be set up in Russia, located in Moscow and Cherkessk.

A polling station will also be established in Türkiye, in the city of Sakarya (Adapazarı), though the exact location has yet to be determined. "I expect to be informed today about the precise location of this polling station," Marshan stated.

As of 11 January, 134,000 people have been registered on the electoral roll.

The absence of a confirmed address for the polling station in Sakarya, Türkiye, has raised concerns about a potential obstruction. It is worth recalling that during Abkhazia’s 2014 presidential election, voting at the polling station set up in Istanbul was disrupted by police intervention. Ballot boxes had been prepared at Abkhazia’s Representative Office in Kadıköy, Istanbul, but as the voting process was underway, police intervened to halt the proceedings. At the time, Engin Özkoç, a Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP from Sakarya of Abkhaz origin, attempted to prevent the authorities from seizing the ballot boxes.

Given past incidents, there are growing concerns that the electoral process in Türkiye could once again face obstacles. The delay in providing the polling station’s exact location to the CEC may be an indication of such challenges.