Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili dismissed the 12 January Abkhaz presidential ballot as illegal given that many Georgians and other former residents of Abkhazia now living in exile were unable to participate

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili dismissed the 12 January Abkhaz presidential ballot as illegal given that many Georgians and other former residents of Abkhazia now living in exile were unable to participate, Georgian media reported. Commenting on President-elect Sergei Bagapsh's 13 January statement that he will accept congratulations on his election only if they are addressed to the president of Abkhazia, Saakashvili said "we shall congratulate ourselves when Georgia's territorial integrity is restored." Also on 13 January, Irakli Alasania, who heads the Tbilisi-based Abkhaz government in exile, told Interfax that the previous day's ballot "fell short of all international standards" and was not legitimate. Bagapsh, whom the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia confirmed on 13 January as winner of the 12 January repeat presidential election, said in Sukhum on 13 January that he will prepare for outgoing President Vladislav Ardzinba a report of egregious violations of election procedure committed by security forces in Abkhazia's southernmost Gali Raion, ITAR-TASS reported. CEC Chairman Batal Tabagua denied that any violations had been reported, but admitted on 13 January that voter turnout in Gali was lower than in other districts (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 January 2005). Bagapsh said on 13 January he will set about forming a coalition government, and that he will discuss with Ardzinba the possibility of holding his inauguration as president earlier than by the 30th day after publication of the election returns. "Nezavisimaya gazeta" on 14 January speculated that Russia may try to prevent Bagapsh's inauguration.