Beslan Butba, a businessman and a former lawmaker, was named on October 23 by his Party of Economic Development, as a candidate for presidential elections in breakaway Abkhazia.

Elections in the breakaway region will be held on December 12. Incumbent Sergey Bagapsh has already announced about the intention to run for re-election.

Butba, who once chaired the committee for foreign affairs in the parliament, failed to retain his seat in the legislative body in the March 2007 elections.

He owns the only independent television station in Abkhazia, Abaza TV, and the newspaper Echo of Abkhazia.

Raul Khajimba, who resigned from the post of the breakaway region’s vice-presidency this May, is also likely to run in the December elections. The Abkhaz Central Election Commission has already registered an initiative group, supporting Khajimba, which is expected to nominate the former vice-president.

A scholar Vitaly Bganba has also announced the intention to run for the presidency; he, however, is viewed to be an underdog candidate.

Candidates can be nominated till November 2.