However, he refused to say with which Russian officials Khashba met and what questions were discussed at meetings.

Consultations and talks in the Russian capital by the two claimants for the supreme post in Abkhazia Raul Khadzhimba and Sergei Bagapsh preceded the present visit by the Abkhazian government head. The talks between them in Moscow could not settle differences. Statements, made by them on their return to Sukhumi, showed that the presidential candidates do not want to make compromises.

Khadzhimba insists on repeated elections, referring to a constitutional provision that cancellation of election results in a district of the republic leads automatically to their invalidation all over the territory of the republic.

Bagapsh is bluntly against this stand. He explained his position by a premise that he had already carried the elections, and there is an appropriate decision by the Abkhazian Central Election Commission (CEC) on this point, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court. Therefore, he is preparing for an inauguration on December 7.

However, the republican Supreme Court adopted, one after another, two contradictory decisions on appeals by Khadzhimba on the night between October 28 and 29. Khadzhimba challenged legality of the election commission’s decisions on validity of the elections all over Abkhazia and the victory of Bagapsh.

The court initially confirmed correctness of CEC actions, but several hours later reviewed its decision and ruled to hold new elections within two months.

In the meantime, armed supporters of Bagapsh continue to control the Abkhazian state TV and radio company. On the other hand, Khadzhimba’s activists have been blocking for over a week the entrance to the parliament, preventing deputies and office staffers from entering.

As a result, deputies of the previous parliaments who gathered for a special meeting, were forced to join last Saturday the process of searching for a way out of the crisis. But they could not come to agreement either. Some also backed Bagapsh, while others voiced support for repeated elections, noting that Bagapsh cannot rule the republic under conditions of a split society.


Source: Itar-Tass