SUKHUMI, May 28 (RIA Novosti) – Abkhazia’s President Alexander Ankvab said during a meeting with the members of the republic’s Security Council that the main goal to prevent bloodshed amid unrest in the country had been achieved.
“The president particularly underlined that the main mission to prevent bloodshed was accomplished,” according to a statement published on the president’s website.
Members of the Security Council discussed the situation in the country as well as ways to settle the issue.
Crowds of protesters seized administrative buildings in Sukhumi late on Tuesday, following an outbreak of mass rallies. The mob demanded that President Aleksandr Ankvab step down.
Abkhaz security chiefs issued a joint statement vowing allegiance to the legitimate president, who described the events as "an armed coup attempt."
Abkhaz Security Council Secretary Nugzar Ashuba said the president is now in Abkhazia and is controlling the situation.
“We will continue efforts so that the events develop in the legal framework. I am sure that there is just no other way out,” the president said, adding that security forces remain loyal to him.
Abkhazia broke away from Georgia following an ethnically tinged war in 1992-1993, just after the Soviet collapse. More than a decade later, in 2008, Russia formally recognized the province as an independent state after a brief war with Tbilisi over another disputed Georgian region, South Ossetia. Many Abkhaz citizens have Russian passports.
