23:57, 12 February 2007

Council of Europe criticized elections in Abkhazia

Batal Tobagua, head of the Central Electoral Committee, has stated that the elections into the bodies of local self-government, held in Abkhazia on Sunday, February 11, could be considered valid.

On the outcomes of the elections, the Council of Europe has spread a statement of Halvdan Skard, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Administrations. "The Congress did not send any observers to the local elections in Abkhazia, since they have encroached on the principle of territorial integrity of Georgia," the statement runs.

"As a consequence, the elections proved to be incompatible with European values and standards in this area," the President of the Congress has noted.

He also addressed the Georgian authorities to strain their efforts for ensuring stability in the region and achieve peaceful settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia.

He has also noted that no observers will be sent to the parliamentary elections in Abkhazia to be held on March 4.

Author: Alena Aleschenko, CK correspondent