Opposition In Abkhazia To Appoint Acting Leadership Amid Crisis

Opposition supporters demonstrate outside the presidential headquarters in Sukhumi, the capital of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, on May 29.

A new acting leadership is expected to be appointed in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia amid an ongoing political crisis.

Lawmakers in the Abkhaz parliament on May 29 expressed their lack of faith in de facto Prime Minister Leonid Lakerbaia and called on de facto President Aleksandr Ankvab to resign before his term officially expires.

The move was made two days after demonstrators in Sukhumi stormed Ankvab's office, leaving only after he promised to dismiss the government.

However, after meeting with Russian officials, Ankvab said on May 29 that he would not resign and would not dismiss Lakerbaia, describing the storming of his office as an "armed coup attempt."

Meanwhile, opposition groups have nominated Beslan Butba to the post of prime minister.

The opposition announced it had formed a Temporary People's Council to preserve order.
Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax