An initiative group supporting Alexander Ankvab, acting president of breakaway Abkhazia, applied to the Abkhaz central election commission to register him as a candidate for the early presidential elections set for August 26, the Abkhaz news agency, Apsnypress, reported on Wednesday.

Ankvab, 58, was the breakaway region's PM since 2005 and the vice president after re-election of late Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh in December 2009. 

There have been at least four, or possibly five, attempts on Ankvab's life since 2005 with the most recent attack carried out in September, 2010. No one has ever been arrested for these attacks.

Raul Khajimba, former vice president of the breakaway region, will also be running in the early elections and PM Sergey Shamba said earlier this month that he would run; the latter, however, has yet to be formally nominated.

Deadline for nominating candidates, which is open since June 27, expires on July 17.