The "Apple" candidate for Karachay-Cherkessia withdrew from the elections after threats.

The candidate from the "Apple" party, Ahmed Abazov, withdrew his candidacy for the State Duma elections after he and his family began receiving threats demanding that they withdraw from the election campaign.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", Ahmed Abazov was registered as a candidate from "Apple" for the Karachay-Cherkessia single-mandate district No. 19.

The "Apple" candidate for the State Duma from the Karachay-Cherkessia single-mandate district No. 19, Ahmed Abazov, stated that a familiar representative of a regional branch of one of the parties contacted him and suggested meeting to discuss socially significant issues for the republic. Two unfamiliar individuals and one of the well-known parliamentarians in the republic were also present at the meeting.

Abazov's statement was published by the "Apple" party on its website.

At the meeting, Abazov was demanded to withdraw from the elections in favor of a candidate from another party, he claims. "I was immediately told directly that I had to withdraw my candidacy from the elections, as the candidate from another party should win in the 19th single-mandate district. At that moment, without thinking, I refused and ended the communication," Abazov said.

According to him, after that, for several days, he and his family members received threats and warnings demanding that they withdraw from the elections. Due to threats to the life and health of his relatives, Abazov decided to withdraw his candidacy and completed the necessary procedures for this. Now Abazov and his family are safe, noted the "Apple" party.

In connection with the incident, Ahmed Abazov sent appeals to the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor General's Office, as stated in the message.

As of 16:05 Moscow time, there are no comments on the websites of the Prosecutor's Office of Karachay-Cherkessia, the Investigative Committee's management for the republic, the main department of the Investigative Committee, and the Prosecutor General's Office regarding the information about pressure and threats against Abazov.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that candidates in Karachay-Cherkessia had previously stated about pressure during election campaigns. For instance, on August 3, 2017, at a meeting of the election commission in Cherkessk, it was announced that 11 out of 18 candidates from "Apple" withdrew their candidacies from the city Duma elections, while the regional branch of the party stated that they did this under pressure from administrative resources.