MOSCOW, March 3. /TASS/. Moscow will continue comprehensive assistance to Abkhazia in the area of national security, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement after the presidential election in that country.
"Abkhazia’s new leadership is faced with large-scale tasks of ensuring the republic’s all-round surge. The implementation of the package of relevant Russian-Abkhazian agreements is called to play a major role in this process. Moscow will continue its comprehensive assistance to Sukhum in the areas of national security, socio-economic developments, and the expansion of international ties," she said.
She stressed that according to Russian and international observers, the voting and vote counting were held in full conformity with the established procedures.
Earlier, Abkhazia’s Central Election Commission announced the final results of the presidential election, where Badra Gunba scored 54.73% of the vote while his rival, Adgur Ardzinba, garnered 41.54%. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to Gunba, where he expressed the hope that Russia and Abkhazia will continue strengthening their allied and friendly relations.