2016 Abkhazian early presidential elections referendum

none 10 July 2016 Abkhazia Do you consider it necessary to hold early presidential elections in the Republic of Abkhazia? 750 761 117 132,887 A referendum on holding early presidential elections was held in Abkhazia on 10 July 2016.Abkhazia to Hold Referendum on Snap Presidential Election Civil, 2 June 2016 The referendum was declared invalid due to low turnout (1.23%), after both sides decided to boycott it. Background A petition calling for a referendum was started by an initiative group in March 2016,Abkhaz Leader Agrees To Opposition's Demand For Referendum Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 30 June 2016 who were required to obtain 10,000 signatures. On 22 April, the initiative group handed over the petition to the Central Election Commission with 19,314 signatures, stating that it had collected 21,226 signatures but had omitted those that were invalid because the information of the signatory was incomplete.Basaria Dmitri Инициативная группа по проведению референдума передала в ЦИК подписные листы с подписями http://apsnypress.info/news/alias-brandziya-tsik-budet-opredelyat-podlinnost-podpisnykh-listov-v-techenie-30-dney/ 30 July 2016 Apsnypress 22 April 2016 The referendum was approved by a decree signed by President Raul Khajimba on 1 June. On 28 June, CEC Chairman Batal Tabagua announced that there would be no polling stations outside Abkhazia.Jopua Irena Батал Табагуа: за пределами республики избирательных участков не будет http://apsnypress.info/news/batal-tabagua-za-predelami-respubliki-izbiratelnykh-uchastkov-ne-budet/ 30 July 2016 Apsnypress 28 June 2016 Interior Ministry crisis In the run-up to the referendum, Interior Minister Leonid Dzapshba gave a speech to officials at the Ministry that angered opposition activists, who claimed Dzapshba had pressured the officials not to participate in the referendum and threatened them with dismissal. On 20 June, three of Dzapshba's predecessors as Interior Minister, Abesalom Beia, Otar Khetsia and Raul Lolua, called upon President Khajimba to dismiss him.ЭКС-МИНИСТРЫ ВНУТРЕННИХ ДЕЛ ОТАР ХЕЦИЯ, РАУЛЬ ЛОЛУА И АБЕССАЛОМ БЕЙЯ ПРЕДЛАГАЮТ ПРЕЗИДЕНТУ ОТПРАВИТЬ В ОТСТАВКУ МИНИСТРА ВНУТРЕННИХ ДЕЛ ЛЕОНИДА ДЗАПШАБА http://abkhazinform.com/item/3994-eks-ministry-vnutrennikh-del-otar-khetsiya-raul-lolua-i-abessalom-bejya-predlagayut-prezidentu-otpravit-v-otstavku-ministra-vnutrennikh-del-leonida-dzapshaba 31 July 2016 Abkhazia Inform 20 June 2016 On 5 July, some opposition activists stormed the Ministry and demanded i.a. Dzapshba's resignation. As a concession to the protestors, Khajimba suspended Dzapshba for the duration of an investigation into the matter by the Prosecutor General.Леонид Дзапшба временно отстранён от исполнения обязанностей министра внутренних дел http://apsnypress.info/news/leonid-dzapshba-vremenno-otstranyen-ot-ispolneniya-obyazannostey-ministra-vnutrennikh-del/ 30 July 2016 Apsnypress 5 July 2016 7 November 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030921/http://apsnypress.info/news/leonid-dzapshba-vremenno-otstranyen-ot-ispolneniya-obyazannostey-ministra-vnutrennikh-del/ deadАлексей Ломия: речь идет об организации массовых беспорядков http://apsnypress.info/news/aleksey-lomiya-rech-idet-ob-organizatsii-massovykh-besporyadkov/ 30 July 2016 Apsnypress 6 July 2016 7 November 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171107012953/http://apsnypress.info/news/aleksey-lomiya-rech-idet-ob-organizatsii-massovykh-besporyadkov/ dead Results The referendum was declared invalid due to low turnout (1.23%) as it was boycotted by both the government and the opposition. Of those who voted, a majority was against holding an early election.Expert: Abkhazia referendum outcome - victory of incumbent president TASS, 11 July 2016 Do you consider it necessary to hold early election of President of the Republic of Abkhazia? ChoiceVotes%For75049.64Against76150.36Invalid/blank votes117–Total1,628100Registered voters/turnout132,8871.23Source: TASS References Abkhazian early presidential elections referendum Early presidential elections referendum 2016 Abkhazian early presidential elections referendum