Presidential election in breakaway Abkhazia is nothing more than a power struggle between Russian-controlled clans, Davit Bakradze, the Georgian parliamentary speaker, said on August 26.

“Situation in Abkhazia is controlled by Russia, all the actual decisions are taken by Russia, Russia is the party, which completely controls security situation, which fully controls economy there and Russia is the party, which controls political life [in Abkhazia] within certain frames,” Bakradze said in televised remarks.

“Although we are ready for a direct dialogue with Abkhazians at any time, we should understand that Russia, whose occupational forces are deployed there, is decisive player in Abkhazia today.”

“So these so called Abkhaz elections do not mean anything more than distribution of power between certain clans,” he added.