SUKHUM, November 18 /TASS/. Abkhazia’s opposition will relinquish control of government buildings in downtown Sukhum only after its political demands are met, said Adgur Ardzinba, leader of the Abkhaz People’s Movement.

The Abkhazian opposition demands a solution to the political situation in the country and the election of a new president. “People will be happy to leave (the Abkhazian government buildings) when the political situation has stabilized, when (Acting Abkhazian President) Aslan Bzhania resigns, when we establish a normal political dialogue and start an election campaign,” Ardzinba said.

The situation in Abkhazia

On November 15, 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 suspended after lawmakers failed to agree on its agenda. The opposition, meanwhile, demanded that the issue be completely removed from the agenda.

Later, the opposition demanded the resignation of President Aslan Bzhania. However, Bzhania refused to resign and urged people not to give in to provocations.

At the same time, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that relations with Abkhazia are among Russia’s priorities and called for the fastest possible normalization of the situation in the country. Deputy Speaker of Russia’s Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Konstantin Kosachev earlier told TASS that Russia supports the constitutional order in friendly Abkhazia and stressed that Moscow has never supported coups.