Counter-Rally in Support of de-facto Regime to be Held in Sokhumi

In parallel with the ongoing demonstrations of the opposition supporters, a counter-rally in support of the de-facto regime of  Georgia's Russian-occupied Abkhazia region will be held in the capital city of Sokhumi today, the First Vice Prime Minister of the breakaway region, Daur Arshba, announced. 

Arshba called on supporters of the de-facto President Raul Khajimba to gather and join the demonstration scheduled for this afternoon. He i responding to the resolution adopted by the de facto parliament of Abkhazia, urging Khajimba to resign amid public protests. 19 so-called MPs supported the resolution, four went against, while one refused to vote.

“You know that he was told to resign. Khajimba answered that he is not ready to take such a decision. We need to gather today to support him,” he said. 

The situation remains tense in the region.

The so-called Security Council of occupied Abkhazia held an extraordinary session on the developments ongoing in Sokhumi yesterday after the opposition and their supporters blocked the so-called presidential administration building.

Russian media reports that a number of people were injured when protesters broke into the administration building.

The second round of "presidential elections" was held in Abkhazia on September 8 last year. According to the de-facto election commission, Raul Khajimba got 47.39% and 46.17% of the population voted for Alkhas Kvitsinia. The opposition does not recognize the results of the elections and calls for their annulment.

Representatives of the opposition and civil activists say they will not go anywhere until Khajimba resigns.

By Ana Dumbadze 

Related Story: Tensions Rising in Sokhumi as Opposition Breaks into the Administrative Building