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| Abkhaz vote in presidential poll | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A presidential election is taking place in Abkhazia, the first poll in the breakaway Georgian region since Russia recognised its independence last year. | |
| All five candidates support strong ties with Moscow, including the incumbent Sergei Bagapsh. Russia now provides security and 60% of Abkhazia's budget. | All five candidates support strong ties with Moscow, including the incumbent Sergei Bagapsh. Russia now provides security and 60% of Abkhazia's budget. |
| Most of the region's ethnic Georgians, who constitute almost one third of the population, are not eligible to vote. | Most of the region's ethnic Georgians, who constitute almost one third of the population, are not eligible to vote. |
| Georgia, which disputes Abkhazia's independence, says the poll is illegal. | Georgia, which disputes Abkhazia's independence, says the poll is illegal. |
| Sergei Bagapsh says more should be done to attract Russian business | |
| Correspondents say the challenge for the winner will be to persuade Western countries to recognise Abkhaz independence without isolating Georgia. | Correspondents say the challenge for the winner will be to persuade Western countries to recognise Abkhaz independence without isolating Georgia. |
| 'Illegal' | 'Illegal' |
| The BBC's Tom Esslemont in the capital, Sukhumi, says Abkhazia has changed considerably since the last presidential election five years ago. | The BBC's Tom Esslemont in the capital, Sukhumi, says Abkhazia has changed considerably since the last presidential election five years ago. |
| It has been recognised as independent by Russia, Venezuela and Nicaragua. | It has been recognised as independent by Russia, Venezuela and Nicaragua. |
| Tension ahead of Abkhazia vote | |
| More importantly it is receiving far more Russian investment than it did before, our correspondent says. | More importantly it is receiving far more Russian investment than it did before, our correspondent says. |
| All five presidential candidates say more should be done to attract Russian business and to seek recognition by other states. | All five presidential candidates say more should be done to attract Russian business and to seek recognition by other states. |
| But critics say Russia's intentions might not be straightforward and have warned the winner of these elections not to sell out to Moscow completely. | But critics say Russia's intentions might not be straightforward and have warned the winner of these elections not to sell out to Moscow completely. |
| At least 130,000 people are registered to vote, but Georgia - which fought a war with Russia over Abkhazia and the other breakaway region of South Ossetia in 2008 - says the election is illegal, arguing that Abkhazia is its territory. | At least 130,000 people are registered to vote, but Georgia - which fought a war with Russia over Abkhazia and the other breakaway region of South Ossetia in 2008 - says the election is illegal, arguing that Abkhazia is its territory. |
| Our correspondent says an estimated 40,000 ethnic Georgians live in the region, but the local law prevents most of them from voting because they do not have Abkhaz passports. | Our correspondent says an estimated 40,000 ethnic Georgians live in the region, but the local law prevents most of them from voting because they do not have Abkhaz passports. |
| And they are cut off from Georgia proper by a border controlled by Russian guards, he adds. | And they are cut off from Georgia proper by a border controlled by Russian guards, he adds. |