11:37, 12 January 2020

Abkhazia: opposition supporters share expectations of their protests

Protesters at the building of the presidential administration in Sukhumi, January 11, 2020. Photo by Anna Gritsevich for the "Caucasian Knot"

In Abkhazia, about 500 protesters have taken control over the presidential administration in Sukhumi, stating that opposition leaders should ensure the resignation of the incumbent president Raul Khadjimba.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 10, Alkhas Kvitsiniya, the leader of the "Amtsakhara" Party, achieved the cancellation of the presidential election outcomes, in which he lost only a thousand votes to Khadjimba. The cancellation decision was taken by the Supreme Court (SC) of Abkhazia amid protesters' seizure of the building of the presidential administration. Activists insist on the immediate resignation of Khadjimba; they believe that Aslan Bzhaniya, the leader of the opposition, should become the new head of the republic.

The opposition continues controlling the presidential administration of Abkhazia.

"We all perfectly understand that if we disperse, the president and his team will occupy the building; this cannot be admitted," said Efrem Gabrilaya, a resident of Sukhumi.

"We are not leaving, because we cannot let the situation out now; everyone's nerves are at the limit," said Roin Tliv, a resident of Tkuarchala. He noted that opposition supporters should "hold the situation to the end and achieve resignation of the president."

Until the new election, Khadjimba will remain the acting president, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Abkhazia has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 11, 2020 at 09:38 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Anna Gritsevich

Source: CK correspondent