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Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania refuses to step down amid riots

According to him, the government is also staying in the country and continues its work

Abkhazia's President Aslan Bzhania Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

Abkhazia's President Aslan Bzhania

© Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

SUKHUM, November 15. /TASS/. Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania has refused to resign amid riots in downtown Sukhum.

"I am staying in Abkhazia and will continue working," he told his supporters.

According to Bzhania, the government is also staying in the country and continues its work. He called on his supporters not to yield to provocations and promised to make efforts to settle the situation.

Abkhazia’s parliament was expected to consider the ratification of the agreement with Russia on the implementation of investment projects in Abkhazia by Russian legal entities, but the session was canceled after the lawmakers failed to agree upon its agenda. The opposition, meanwhile, demanded that the issue be removed from the agenda entirely.

Several hundred protesters gathered in front of the parliament building. Some time later, they surrounded the entire governmental compound. The Abkhazian Security Council described the situation as tense.

Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania stressed the inadmissibility of exerting pressure on lawmakers and urged citizens to refrain from provocations.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia had not interfered into Abkhazia’s domestic process and hoped that the situation would be settled peacefully. The ministry warned Russian nationals against trips to Abkhazia.

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