Bagapsh Frustrated by Saakashvili Statement, Rejects Dialogue

Opposition presidential candidate Sergey Bagapsh responded with frustration to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s statement over Georgia’s readiness to launch talks with Bagapsh, who serves as the representative of the majority of the population currently living in Abkhazia.

Bagapsh said Saakashvili was “one person too many” to be involved in the current Abkhazia crisis, Russian NTV television reported.

Bagapsh is considered president-elect by the Central Elections Commission and backed by the Abkhaz parliament, but his credentials are challenged by the outgoing president Vladislav Ardzinba, who forbade the inauguration of Bagapsh, scheduled for December 6. Yesterday, Russian officials made statements threatening to close the Russian border with Georgia’s breakaway province, in an apparent bid to prevent Bagapsh from becoming President.

Analysts say that Saakashvili’s statement, seen as a backing of Bagapsh, may undermine his base of support in Abkhazia.

Bagapsh responded to Saakashvili’s statement by calling it “a provocation aimed at creating a rift within Abkhazia and between Abkhazia and Russia.”

“I am not going to have talks with Saakashvili,” Bagapsh continued.