Abkhaz President Shelters At Russian Military Base

Aleksandr Ankvab is said to be at the Russian base for his own safety.

With the parliament building still occupied by the political opposition, Abkhazia's de facto president has sought refuge at a Russian military base.

The de facto prime minister of Georgia's breakaway region, Leonid Lakerbaia, said on May 30 that Aleksandr Ankvab was at the Russian military base in Gudauta, on the Black Sea coast.

The Abkhaz opposition took over parliament earlier in the week after opposition supporters stormed the government building.

On May 29 parliament approved a measure calling on Ankvab to step down from his post.

Ankvab meet with Russian officials and said on May 29 he would not resign.

Lakerbaia, who the opposition has also called upon to resign, said Ankvab was at the Russian base for his own safety. "There are certain people who would like something bad to happen to the president," Lakerbaia said.
Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax