SUKHUM, November 16. /TASS/. Abkhazian President Alsan Bzhania left the republic’s capital Sukhum on Friday, rejecting the opposition’s demand to step down and hold early elections.
The opposition in Abkhazia halted talks with government officials and announced plans to build up its forces in the seized governmental district.
According to initial reports, the president withdrew from the parliament a bill to ratify an investment agreement with Russia, criticized by the opposition. However, his press service refuted this information early on Saturday.
TASS compiled main facts about the situation in the country.
President’s stance
- Addressing his supporters against the backdrop of unrest that gripped the governmental district in the capital Sukhum, Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania has refused to resign. "I am staying in Abkhazia and will continue working," he said.
- At this point, Bzhania is staying in his home village of Tamysh, his press service said.
- The president called on his supporters not to yield to provocations and promised to make efforts to settle the situation.
- The presidential press service refuted "false reports, published by the opposition’s media outlets claiming that the head of the state moved to the territory of the Russian military base after addressing the nation."
- Abkhazia’s Public Chamber urged all political forces "to resume the normal work of state institutions and to launch a political dialogue."
Opposition’s demands
- Abkhazia’s opposition has given Bzhania one hour to resign. "We are not giving up. We give him (the president - TASS) one hour. If he doesn’t step down, we will go where he is. We have sent people with this ultimatum to him," Levan Mikaa, an opposition spokesman said.
- Leader of the non-governmental organization Abkhazian People's Movement, Adgur Ardzinba, said the opposition also demands an early election in the republic.
- The opposition in Abkhazia halted talks with government officials and plans to build up its forces, opposition lawmaker Kan Kvarchia said.
- The opposition wanted Bzhania to appoint a new prime minister, who will fulfill presidential duites until the elections are held, Kvarchia said.
- Opposition activists and public organizations have set up a coordination council for talks with the government, with the goal of finding a way out of the political crisis, the opposition said in a statement released by the Respublika telegram channel.
- An Abkhazian election official told TASS that if the president steps down, early elections are to be held within three months after his resignation, "tentatively until late February."
Casualties
- At least 13 people were wounded in the unrest, three of them had to be admitted to a hospital, the republic’s health ministry told TASS.
- According to the health ministry, none of the victims suffers from life-threatening injuries.
Russian Foreign Ministry’s stance
- Russia is following with concern the events in Abkhazia, where "domestic tensions have exacerbated again," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
- In her opinion, opposition forces failed to settle their differences with the legitimate government through a civilized dialogue
- Such developments do not encourage foreign investors to engage in mutual projects, which are "an important factor in the republic’s social and economic growth."
- Russia is not interfering in internal processes in Abkhazia and expects the situation to be settled solely by peaceful methods, Zakharova said.
Risks for tourists
- The Russian Foreign Ministry advised Russian citizens to refrain from visiting Abkhazia
- Around 8,000 Russian tourists are estimated to be on the country’s territory.
- At least 95% of tourists are staying in the republic’s two major resorts: Gagra and Pitsunda. They are free to end their vacation whenever they see fit and leave the country without any problems, the association of Russian tour operators said.
- The situation on the Russian-Abkhazian border is calm, with border checkpoints operating as normal, according to Abkhazian border guards.