SUKHUM, November 16. /TASS/. The Civic Chamber (CC) of Abkhazia established a group for negotiations between the authorities and the opposition, the Apsnypress news agency reported.

Previously, CC members Sokrat Dzhindzholia and Ruslan Khashig voiced their initiative to act as mediators in the negotiations between President Aslan Bzhania and the Abkhazian opposition.

"The special group, established by the Civic Chamber for negotiations between the authorities and the opposition, informed both sides about the potential options to settle the ongoing political crisis. The group’s representatives, led by CC member, former Prime Minister of Abkhazia Sokrat Dzhindzholia, met with opposition leaders and President Aslan Bzhania," the news agency said, adding that the negotiations, which started today, will continue tomorrow.

The Parliament of Abkhazia was supposed to review the ratification of the agreement with Russia regarding Russian legal entities’ investment projects in the republic. The parliamentary session was canceled because the lawmakers were unable to approve its agenda. The opposition expressed its disagreement and demanded another parliamentary meeting to remove this issue altogether.

Several hundred people took to the streets at the parliament building. They were able to surround and occupy the entire government buildings complex. The Security Council of Abkhazia called the situation tense. Later, the opposition called on President Bzhania to resign. In response, he stated that he will continue his duties and called on the people not to succumb to provocations.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia, which does not interfere in Abkhazia’s internal issues, expects that the current situation would be resolved by peaceful means exclusively. The Foreign Ministry advised Russian nationals to refrain from visiting Abkhazia.