Russia hailed on Sunday the results of the presidential elections in the former Georgian republic of Abkhazia, which re-elected incumbent President Sergei Bagapsh.

The Abkhazian Central Election Commission announced on Sunday preliminary results of the presidential elections in the republic, according to which Bagapsh secured 59.4% of the votes, almost four times more than second-placed Raul Khadzimba.

"We can congratulate Sergei Bagapsh with the victory. We'll work with the president who has been elected by the Abkhaz people and we'll continue cooperation in all directions," said Igor Lyakin-Frolov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press department.

Abkhazia held on Saturday its first presidential election since Russia recognized its independence in August 2008 after a brief war with Georgia. The winning candidate was required to win a majority of 50% plus one vote to be declared the winner in the first round of the election.

Former vice-president Khadzimba received 15.4% of the votes, shipping director Zaur Ardzinba 10.8%, opposition leader Beslan Butba 7.9% and independent candidate Vitaly Bganba 1.5%, the Central Election Commission said.

Sixty-year-old Bagapsh has been president of the former Georgian republic since January 2005. In his election campaign he pledged to focus on the development of the Abkhaz economy, improve living standards and raise wages. He also said that in its foreign policy Abkhazia would continue strengthening political and economic ties with Russia.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has condemned the vote as an illegal Kremlin-backed gesture in an "occupied territory."

MOSCOW, December 13 (RIA Novosti)