- Title: GEORGIA: REBEL REGION OF ABKHAZIA VOTES IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
- Date: 3rd October 2004
- Summary: (W4) GEORGIA, ABKHAZIA, SUKHUMI (OCTOBER 3, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE OF VIEW OF STREETS IN SUKHUMI 0.06 2. VARIOUS OF ELECTION POSTER 0.17 3. SLV PEOPLE WALKING UNDER RAIN 0.24 4. WIDE OF EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION 0.30 5. SLV RAUL KHADZHIMBA, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, ENTERING POLLING STATION 0.41 6. CLOSE OF KHADZHIMBA DROPPING BALLOT PAPER INTO BALLOT BOX 0.52 7. SMV KHADZHIMBA SURROUNDED BY MEDIA 0.58 8. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RAUL KHADZHIMBA, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SAYING:"I am in a good mood I think these elections will show whether we can build democratic state." 1.11 9. CLOSE OF IDENTITY DOCUMENTS AND VOTING PAPERS BEING CHECKED 1.23 10. WIDE OF VOTERS REGISTERING 1.28 11. SLV OLD WOMAN VOTING 1.38 12. CLOSE OF POLLING STAMP SEAL AND FLAG ON BALLOT BOX 1.45 13. WIDE OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDIATE SERGEI BAGAPSH ARRRIVING AT POLLING STATION 1.50 13. WIDE OF SERGEI BAGAPSH, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, BEING REGISTERED 1.56 14. SLV BAGAPSH VOTING 2.15 15. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SERGEI BAGAPSH, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SAYING:" I voted for my future, for future of my country. I want to see Abkhazia independent and prosperous with a united population.I want people to respect their leader and the leader must respect the people." 2.31 18. CLOSE OF BALLOT PAPERS IN BALLOT BOX 2.36 19. SCU (SOUNBITE)(Russian) DZHUMBER SALAKAYA, HEAD OF REGIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION, SAYING: " We have never seen such electoral activity at the previous elections. We have observers here from all candidates and do not have any problems, people are very active." 2.57 20. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT POLLING STATION/ PEOPLE LOOKING AT VOTING LISTS 3.08 21. WIDE OF PEOPLE QUEUING AT POLLING STATION ENTRANCE 3.13 22. WIDE OF EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION 3.19 23. WIDE OF VIEW OF STREETS OF SUKHUMI 3.26 24. VARIOUS OF BILLBOARDS PROMOTING CANDIDATES 3.43 25. WIDE OF ELECTION BANNER STRUNG ACROSS STREET 3.49 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th October 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: AFGHAN POLICE DRAGGING THEIR COLLEAGUE AWAY
- Country: Georgia
- Reuters ID: LVAD4U4WOGLX3X8U82FJDP3LNI4
- Story Text: Rebel Georgian region votes, peace deal seems unlikely.
The breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia voted in a
presidential election on Sunday(October 3) with all
candidates united in their call for full independence for
the tiny Black Sea territory.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, elected this
year after a bloodless revolution, wants to return the
region on Russia's border to Georgian rule. But Abkhazians
are defiant.
"I voted for my future for future of my country. I want
to see Abkhazia independent and prosperous with united
population. I want people respect their leader and leader
must respect the people," said Sergei Bagapsh, there in
competition with Russian-backed candidate Raul Khadzhimba.
The Georgian government is enraged by Russian support
for Abkhazia where three-quarters of the population have
Russian citizenship and pensions are paid by Moscow.
Abkhaz separatists took up arms against Georgia's young
government after the collapse of the Soviet Union,
defeating Georgian forces in 1993 and driving them into the
sea.
The territory has suffered economic collapse in
recent years, its yearly state budget just $15 million. But
that has not stopped Abkhazians from pursuing their own
path.
"I think these elections will show whether we can build
democratic state,"said Khadzhimba. Abkhazia thinks that their
home
land is too
strategically important for Russia to ignore while
Washington supports Georgia with aid and military training.
pj/
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