Abkhazian Prime Minister refuses to resign at request of opposition

Leonid Lakerbaya, Prime Minister of Abkhazia, said he would not accept the opposition's demand for his resignation. In his turn, Raul Khajimba, the chairman of the oppositional "Forum of National Unity of Abkhazia" has stated that the country needs reforms.

In his comments on the opposition's demands, Leonid Lakerbaya said that he was ready to discuss "the motivated claims to particular members of the government, as well as suggestions for high-quality and speedy resolution of the existing problems."

"In reality, the Abkhaz society is concerned about much more problems than voiced out by the opposition," runs Mr Lakerbaya's statement released on March 5.

Speaking live on the state television of Abkhazian in the evening on March 5, Raul Khajimba, the chairman of the oppositional party "Forum of National Unity of Abkhazia", said that "because of the authorities' guilt, the country faces this complicated situation."

"For years we keep talking about the need to create conditions that are actually aimed at reforms, because today more than 60 percent of the population is unemployed. Only a small portion of people are employed – in bureaucratic activities," said Khajimba.

The opposition leader has stressed that no one had moved an ultimatum to the Prime Minister Leonid Lakerbaya. "It was just a request," said Khajimba.