In Sukhumi, residents of Abkhazia bid farewell to first President Vladislav Ardzinba

Today, people in Sukhumi follow Vladislav Ardzinba, their first President and a symbol of the national-liberation struggle of the people of Abkhazia, to his grave. At 9 in the morning the coffin with his body was placed in the Abkhazian State Philharmonic Society. The mourning ceremony will last till 3:00 p.m. Moscow time.

People from all cities and areas of the republic came to Sukhumi to say farewell to the first President of Abkhazia. Because of a huge inflow of people and vehicles, the city authorities had to stop the traffic, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Condolence telegrams from all over the world arrive to Abkhazia; and activists of the Abkhazian Diaspora abroad also came to the funeral of Ardzinba.

Vladislav Ardzinba died in his 65th year from a heavy long illness on March 4 in the morning in the Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow.

March 7-9 were announced mourning days in Abkhazia; all the hoisted national banners and flags will be dipped and all celebrations and family events will be postponed. Television and radio cancelled all their entertaining programmes; mourning music and documentaries will be on about life and work of the first President of Abkhazia, who headed the republic during its hardest period.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the opposition of Abkhazia suggested to memorialize Vladislav Ardzinba. It is offered to build his monument in the capital of Abkhazia, in the Freedom Square and rename the Mir Avenue in Sukhumi as the Vladislav Ardzinba Avenue.

Also it is offered to give Ardzinba's name to the Sukhumi International Airport, streets, avenues and parks in cities and towns, to military units, and to inaugurate the national prize of his name in the field of Caucasian studies and appoint scholarships in higher educational institutions of the republic.