[1] The referendum was declared invalid due to low turnout (1.23%), after both sides decided to boycott it.

[2] A petition calling for a referendum was started by an initiative group in March 2016,[3] who were required to obtain 10,000 signatures.

On 20 June, three of Dzapshba's predecessors as Interior Minister, Abesalom Beia, Otar Khetsia and Raul Lolua, called upon President Khajimba to dismiss him.

As a concession to the protestors, Khajimba suspended Dzapshba for the duration of an investigation into the matter by the Prosecutor General.

[7][8] The referendum was declared invalid due to low turnout (1.23%) as it was boycotted by both the government and the opposition.