Registration of candidates for the upcoming presidential elections in breakaway Abkhazia was launched on August 3.

According to the Law of Abkhazia on Presidential Elections, the registration will last for 20 days.

The Abkhaz opposition movements Amtsakhara and United Abkhazia have already nominated Sergei Bagapsh to run for President of the unrecognized republic.

Sergei Bagapsh is currently the chief of the Abkhazian energy company ChernoMorEnergo.

The presidential candidates list also includes de facto Prime Minister Raul Khajimba, ex-Premier Anri Jergenia and leader of political movement Aitaira Alexander Ankvab.

Abkhazia will elect a new leader on October 3 as the ailing incumbent President Vladislav Ardzinba’s term in office expires this year.

According to Abkhazia’s election code the presidential candidate should be an ethnic Abkhaz who is fluent in the Abkhaz language.