Abkhaz leader, Alexander Ankvab, signed a decree on December 12 setting March 10, 2012 as the date for parliamentary elections in the breakaway region, Abkhaz news agency, Apsnipress, reported.

The 35-member legislative body is elected for a five-year term; members are elected through majoritarian system in single-mandate constituencies.

Speaking at a news conference on December 6, the Abkhaz leader said that existing system “is optimal for Abkhazia.” He also said, according to the Russian news website Kavkazsky Uzel, that he was against of increasing number of lawmakers.