alexander_ankvab

Alexander Ankvab. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The leader of the Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia,  Alexander Ankvab, resigned on Sunday.

Ankvab said he resigned in order to ‘maintain the stability of the country’, according to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass.

“In accordance with the 65th article of the Abkhazian constitution, I resigned from the post of president,” Ankvab wrote in an address to Abkhazians.

“I call on everyone for calmness, maintain civic peace and I call on you to conduct the presidential election in a peaceful environment.”


May 27, the opposition in Abkhazia broke into the presidential administration building and havbe remained there until now.

Ankvab’s appeal says the government tried to negotiate with the opposition, but failed to achieve any consensus.

“For Alexander Ankvab post, including post of president, is not the highest value.”

Raul Khajimba, one of the leaders of the opposition said Sunday that a new de facto prime minister of Abkhazia will be named on Monday.

But Leonid Lakerbaia, current PM of the de facto republic said he doesn’t intend to resign like the president. He told Intefax.ru that the cabinet of ministers continues to work.

Responding to his statement, Khajimba said that since Ankvab resigned, next issue will be the resignation of teh PM. Journalists asked him how the opposition managed to force Ankvab to resign. He said ‘both parties understood well that this way couldn’t have continued.’

“I cannot say what was the last straw, but as time went on and on the background of announcement of a rally tomorrow, this could have been another confrontation, which should be avoided,” he said.

Valery Bganba is acting president of the de facto republic.