Reports: Opposition Captures Governmental Offices in Sokhumi
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Supporters of Raul Khajimba were gathered |
Opposition leader Sergey Bagapsh’s supporters captured all the governmental building in breakaway Abkhazia’s capital Sokhumi, including the Governmental Office, Parliament and the President’s Administration, Russian news agencies reported.
Russian state RTR television reported that shoots were heard, as a guard tried in vain to prevent opposition protesters from breaking into the Governmental Office. According to the RTR several supporters of Bagapsh were wounded.
RIA Novosti news agency reported that Prime Minister Nodar Khashba and pro-governmental presidential candidate Raul Khajimba left the Governmental Office as soon as the opposition headed to the building.
Nodar Khashba described the current situation to Interfax news agency as “mass disorder.”
Regnum news agency reported that the police do not intervene in the developments. Opposition supporters are chanting “Bagapsh – the President.”
Itar-Tass reported that Raul Khajimba and Sergey Bagapsh met each other, before the latter’s supporters stormed the government’s office in Sokhumi; but no agreement has been reached.
Earlier, on November 12, two simultaneous rallies of supporters of the two main Abkhaz presidential rivals Sergey Bagapsh and Raul Khajimba were held in Sokhumi.
Around 700 supporters of the pro-governmental presidential candidate Raul Khajimba, who demands repeat elections, were gathered outside the Abkhaz Governmental Office; while up to 3,000 supporters of the opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh, who claims victory in October 3 elections, were gathered on the Freedom Square, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.
In a statement issued on November 11, outgoing President Vladislav Ardzinba warned the Abkhaz people over the civil confrontation threat and called for repeat elections.
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