GEORGIA: High-profile Russian figures mediate in unrest in Georgia's Russian-backed breakaway republic of Abkhazia where a crowd demands that the president resign

Record ID: 643470

  • Title: GEORGIA: High-profile Russian figures mediate in unrest in Georgia's Russian-backed breakaway republic of Abkhazia where a crowd demands that the president resign
  • Date: 29th May 2014
  • Summary: SUKHUMI, ABKHAZIA, GEORGIA (MAY 28, 2014) (NIGHT SHOTS) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CROWD AT RALLY OUTSIDE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING ABKHAZIAN FLAGS VARIOUS OF CROWD AT RALLY WOMAN LISTENING OPPOSITION LEADER RAUL KHADZHIMBA SPEAKING AT RALLY PEOPLE LISTENING RALLY SUKHUMI, ABKHAZIA, GEORGIA (MAY 29, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IN MORNING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) OPPOSITION LEADER RAUL KHADZHIMBA, SAYING: "We met yesterday with Vladislav Yurievich (Surkov). Certain issues were discussed. I hope there will be positive steps. I know that throughout the night there has been a meeting with army representatives and yesterday with the president himself." ABKHAZIAN FLAG OVER PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) OPPOSITION LEADER RAUL KHADZHIMBA, SAYING: "We will be solving the problems of our own people, of our own country according to the constitution we have. We will not concede any of our positions neither to yesterday's president nor to those people attempting to use some new means of influence." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 13th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Georgia
  • Country: Georgia
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5053ZFE16WVAN1UWMWPXM8T7W
  • Story Text: Concerned over unrest in Abkhazia, Russian leaders sent a Kremlin aide to the Moscow-backed breakaway region of Georgia, after protesters chased its president from his headquarters.
    Opposition leader Raul Khadzimba confirmed on Thursday (May 29) that he met with Vladislav Surkov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's top aide.
    "We met yesterday with Vladislav Yurievich (Surkov). Certain issues were discussed. I hope there will be positive steps. I know that throughout the night there has been a meeting with army representatives and yesterday with the president himself," Khadzimba said.
    Russian media said Surkov held talks with Ankvab in a town outside Sukhumi and also met opposition leaders.
    Opponents and backers of Ankvab held rival rallies into the night in the capital Sukhumi. The Interior Ministry said it was stepping up patrols, but there was no sign of a crackdown on the opposition.
    Opposition demonstrators were still apparently controlling access to President Alexander Ankvab's administration building on Wednesday (May 28), after storming it on Tuesday (May 27).
    Ankvab was with senior security officials at an undisclosed location in the lush Black Sea coastal region. He left following unsuccessful talks with opposition leaders on Tuesday (May 27), who called for him to step down.
    He has accused them of seeking to take power by force.
    Abkhazia broke from Georgian rule in the 1992-1993 war after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
    Russia recognized the region and another breakaway province of Georgia, South Ossetia, as independent states after fighting a five-day war against Georgia in 2008.
    After the war with Georgia in August 2008, Russia also strengthened its control over Abkhazia, where Russian forces help guard the de facto border with Georgian government-controlled territory.
    But relations with Russia are a political point of contention in the region, with some Abkhazians calling for integration with Russia and others saying it should be more self-reliant.
    Khadzimba said the will of the people is the only force that will drive change in Abkhazia.
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