Almost 50 percent of the referendum voters are against early elections of the President of Abkhazia, reports Tass based on the information provided by the  CEC chairman Batal Tabagua.  The turnout at the referendum made 1.23 percent.

"The turnout at the referendum have made 1.23 percent or 1628 voters; 46.07 percent of the votes are in favor of early presidential elections, or 750 votes , whereas 46.74 percent or 761 votes are against the early elections. 117 ballots were declared as invalid. The total number of people in the voting lists made 132 887 , " said Tabagua .

"The referendum has been declared as invalid," said the head of the CEC. The opposition is eligible to initiate the vote on the same issue no sooner than in two years. The referendum held on 10 July in Abkhazia posed only one question – whether it was necessary to hold early presidential elections in the Republic of Abkhazia or not."