Abkhazia, which has been struggling for cessation from Georgia since 1990-ies, held a parliamentary election on Sunday. The Abkhazian officials have announced high activity of the voters, the BBC Russian service reports. Georgia called the election illegal. Nevertheless, Abkhazian President Sergey Bagapsh said the voting proceeded in a calm atmosphere in accordance with democratic norms.

Russia is supposed to back Abkhazia's aspirations and this, in the words of the BBC reporter, is one of the key factors in the protracted political conflict between Moscow and Tbilisi. Tension in the Galsky region, mostly inhabited by ethnic Georgians, is especially high.