SUKHUMI. June 14 - Valery Arshba, vice president of the self-proclaimed republic of Abkhazia, said he hopes for Abkhazia to be under the Russian protectorate.

"As in 1810, we again want to be under the Russian protectorate so that Russia can help preserve the Abkhaz people and avoid war," Arshba told Interfax on Monday.

Abkhazia's authorities met with a Russian State Duma delegation led by Rodina faction leader Dmitry Rogozin earlier today.

Arshba accused the Georgian authorities of making moves that threaten Abkhazia's independence, and called on Duma deputies to accelerate the debate on Abkhazia's request for associated relations with Russia.

"The plans Georgia's new leadership has against Abkhazia are very revanchist," he said.

"We view Russia as guarantor of our independence and of the free development of our republic's political sector and economy," Arshba said.


Source: Interfax