SUKHUM. July 11 (Interfax) - The referendum on early presidential elections in Abkhazia has been declared void due to the low voter turnout, Abkhazian Central Elections Commission Chairman Batal Tabagua said.
The turnout stood at 1.23% of eligible voters, he said.
"A total of 1,628 citizens or 1.23% of eligible electorate participated in the ballot," the Central Elections Commission chairman said.
Abkhazia has 132,885 voters in all.
Voters who cast their ballots in the referendum were divided almost 50/50: "750 persons voted for, and 761 were against," Tabagua said.
The referendum asked Abkhazian citizens whether they "deemed it necessary to hold early presidential elections in the Republic of Abkhazia."
"Given that less than 50% of voters participated in the ballot, the referendum was declared void in accordance with the law," the Abkhazian Central Elections Commission chairman said.
Abkhazian President Raul Khajimba urged the opposition to hold dialogue on a way out of the political situation in his remarks on the referendum outcomes. "I call on the opposition and all sound forces in the republic to start dialogue and to search for ways out of the current situation," Khajimba told Interfax on Sunday.