Russian Investigative Committee initiated an investigation following  reports of violations of Armenians` rights during the elections in  Abkhazia

ArmInfo.  The Russian Investigative Committee has initiated an investigation in response to  media reports about violations of citizens' rights during the presidential elections in Abkhazia,  as stated by the agency's official representative Svetlana Petrenko in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Reports from media and online reports indicate that on February 19,  in the village of Tsandripsh in the Gagra region, several dozen  people  arrived in around twenty cars and exerted pressure on the  heads of rural settlements to convince the local Armenian population  to abstain from participating in the elections.

"As part of the investigation, necessary examinations, including  linguistic ones, have been ordered. The investigation has also  prepared a request for legal assistance. A procedural decision will  be made based on the results of the verification activities,"  Petrenko added.  Earlier, the Armenian Community of Abkhazia issued a  statement urging the country's authorities to protect them  from  attacks by opposition political forces.

The second round of presidential elections in Abkhazia is scheduled  for March 1. Prominent political figure Badra Gunba and opposition  candidate Ardgur Ardzinba are competing for the position of head of  the republic.