- Title: GEORGIA: Abkhazia's parliament votes for early presidential elections
- Date: 31st May 2014
- Summary: SUKHUMI, GEORGIA (MAY 31, 2014) (REUTERS) ABKHAZ MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN SESSION / VOTING ON AGENDA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MP ASLAN KOBAKHIA READING TEXT OF PARLIAMENT RULING, SAYING: "Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia states: first - according to article 66 part 1 and article 67 of the constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia, until the election of the new president is held, the powers and duties of the president of the Republic of Abkhazia will be handed over to the speaker of the people's parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia, Bganba Valery Ramshukhovich." MPS VOTING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MP ASLAN KOBAKHIA READING TEXT OF PARLIAMENT RULING, SAYING: "To call early elections of the president of the Republic of Abkhazia for August 24, 2014." OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT BUILDING OPPOSITION LEADER RAUL KHADZHIMBA AND ABKHAZ PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AND ACTING PRESIDENT VALERY BGANBA ADDRESSING CROWD (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) OPPOSITION LEADER RAUL KHADZHIMBA, SAYING: "I hope today we will see the beginning of unification of all our people. We are all brothers and we do not have another option." PEOPLE CHEERING / WAVING ABKHAZ FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ABKHAZ PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AND ACTING PRESIDENT VALERY BGANBA, SAYING: "I think a very important event happened today - parliament has undertaken responsibility for the fate of the people, of the country." PEOPLE CHEERING / WAVING ABKHAZ FLAG
- Embargoed: 15th June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Georgia
- Country: Georgia
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA8J9NRYKZRN93GR2XUQIBAECX9
- Story Text: The parliament of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia voted on Saturday (May 31) to hold early presidential elections in August, in a move denounced by the prime minister as "revolutionary" after the opposition seized control.
"Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia states: first - according to article 66 part 1 and article 67 of the constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia, until the election of the new president is held, the powers and duties of the president of the Republic of Abkhazia will be handed over to the speaker of the people's parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia, Bganba Valery Ramshukhovich," MP Aslan Kobakhia read the text of the resolution to the parliament before the vote.
"To call early elections of the president of the Republic of Abkhazia for August 24, 2014," Kobakhia continued.
The vote for early elections was backed by 23 of the 24 members of the 35-seat parliament who were present at Saturday's session, but Prime Minister Leonid Lakerbaya said the result was unconstitutional.
After the parliament session opposition leader Raul Khadzhimba and acting president Valery Bganba addressed the crowd gathered outside.
"I hope today we will see the beginning of unification of all our people. We are all brothers and we do not have another option," Khadzhimba told the crowd as they cheered and waved Abkha flags.
"I think a very important event happened today - parliament has undertaken responsibility for the fate of the people, of the country," Bganba said.
On Tuesday (May 27), protesters broke into the capital's presidential headquarters and opposition leaders formed a Provisional National Council in the Russian-backed province, which they said is now under their control since President Alexander Ankvab fled the capital.
On Friday (May 30), Ankvab, who is believed to be at a military base under Russian jurisdiction outside the main city of Sukhumi, said he would ignore an appeal by parliamentarians to quit and to sack his prime minister.
Whoever leads Abkhazia, it will continue to have close ties with Moscow, on which it depends for political and economic assistance. The opposition described the unrest as a local issue and draws no parallels with events outside the province.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both relatively poor provinces in Georgia, were the focus of a war between Georgia and Russia in 2008 and now rely on Moscow's backing. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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