International Observers from Italy Praise Transparency in Abkhazian Elections

SUKHUM / AQW’A — Italian international observer Vito Grittani has described Abkhazia’s presidential elections as open and democratic, highlighting the transparency and efficiency of the electoral process.

Grittani, who arrived in Abkhazia on 13 February as part of a delegation of international observers, stated that he and his colleagues had visited eight polling stations so far and were impressed by the high level of organisation.

"We were pleasantly surprised by the high level of organisation and the transparency of the process. So far, we have not observed any serious violations," Grittani said.

He added that throughout the day, he and his colleagues intend to visit several more polling stations.

According to Grittani, some of his colleagues even noted that the electoral process in Abkhazia appeared more democratic than in Italy.

Another international observer from Italy, Grazia Rosa Villani, who is also the editor-in-chief of the Italian magazine Gente di Bracciano and the weekly publication L'Ortica del Venerdì settimanale, echoed these sentiments. She praised the high level of organisation and noted that voter turnout appeared strong.

"The turnout is quite high, which indicates that people are truly engaged in deciding their future. We were also surprised to see a 'None of the Above' option on the ballot, something that does not exist in Italy," Villani remarked.

She emphasised that all necessary conditions had been met to ensure that citizens could freely express their will in the election.

As voting continues across the country, international observers are expected to continue monitoring the process and providing further assessments.

According to CEC Chairman Dmitry Marshan, 100 international observers from 25 different countries have arrived in Abkhazia to monitor the elections. These observers include representatives from Austria, Germany, Spain, Greece, Italy, Argentina, Serbia, Portugal, South Korea, South Ossetia, Transnistria, and Russia.

Some notable international observers include:

• France – Arnaud Olivier Jean Develey, an expert in international law.
• Italy – Sara Cunial, a former Italian MP and chair of the political party Vita.
• Colombia – David Alejandro Toro Ramirez, a member of the House of Representatives of the Congress of Colombia.

The presence of these international observers adds to the credibility of the election process and reinforces Abkhazia’s efforts to ensure transparency in its democratic procedures.