About Civil.ge
Eng | Geo | Rus
Last updated: 10:55 - 1 May.'18
RSS
Mobile
Twitter
Facebook
Abkhaz Parliament Calls on Ankvab to Resign, Passes No Confidence Vote Against PM
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 30 May.'14 / 00:45

  • Putin’s aide Surkov: ‘Political tension is not receding yet’;
  • After Surkov’s mediation, opposition and govt agree to start direct talks; 

Parliament of breakaway Abkhazia passed a resolution late on May 29 calling on embattled Abkhaz leader, Alexander Ankvab, to step down “voluntarily”.

With the same resolution the breakaway region’s legislative body expressed “no-confidence” against PM Leonid Lakerbaia.

Ankvab responded that he will not dismiss Lakerbaia.

“As far as a proposal about my resignation is concerned, I will not respond on that before I hold consultations with another, substantial part of lawmakers, who were not present at parliament session, as well as with voters, public and political organizations, which have been supporting legitimate authorities throughout these days and which are calling on the opposition to return in legal framework,” Ankvab told Russia’s Interfax news agency. 
 
21 lawmakers were present at the session of 35-seat parliament; 20 of them voted in favor of the resolution, according to Abkhaz news agency Apnsipress.

According to breakaway region’s constitution, when the parliament passes a no-confidence vote against a cabinet member, it is then up to the president to take the final decision.

PM Lakerbaia has earlier expressed readiness to step down if it helps to resolve the current political standoff in which the opposition is calling for Ankvab’s resignation.

The breakaway region’s parliament can only impeach the president with two-third majority vote if the latter violates oath of office; but before such a vote, according to the Abkhaz constitution, there should be a conclusion from the supreme court confirming that the violation really took place.

Ankvab had to leave the presidential headquarters after the opposition took over the premises late on May 27; the building remains under the opposition’s control.

After mediation between the authorities and the opposition, Russian President’s aide, Vladislav Surkov, who arrived in Sokhumi on May 28, said on Thursday that the parties agreed to launch direct talks between each other.

“Political tension is not receding yet,” Russian and Abkhaz news agencies reported quoting Surkov as saying on May 29.

“Russia considers recent events entirely internal affair of sovereign Abkhazia. The President and the opposition stated that the way out of the crisis should be found within the legal framework, democratic procedures and traditions of the Abkhaz people. Russia is interested in peaceful and prompt resolution of the problem and restoration of order in our brotherly Abkhazia,” Surkov said.

“Both the President and the opposition stressed on their unconditional commitment to the course of further strengthening of allied relationship with Russia,” Surkov said.

Surkov, who is in charge of overseeing Moscow’s relations with breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia, is accompanied in Sokhumi by deputy secretary of Russia’s security council Rashid Nurgaliyev.

Vitaly Gabnia, chairman of union of the Abkhaz war veterans, Aruaa, has been selected as a negotiator on behalf of the Coordinating Council, a group united opposition political parties and public movements. Abkhaz leader Alexander Ankvab will be represented by secretary of security council Nugzar Ashuba.

Both are “respected” persons in Abkhazia, Surkov said of Gabnia and Ashuba and expressed hope that the parties will be able to negotiate an agreement.

Opposition’s negotiator Vitaly Gabnia said on May 29 that “process is not easy.”

“There is no progress yet,” he added.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Council announced on May 29 about setting up of a “temporary council of national confidence; the 21-member council of opposition representatives will be tasked to perform executive functions of the government, according to Apsnipress.

Latest News
01 May.'18 10:55
We Have Moved to a New Platform
Direct Your Bookmarks to https://civil.ge.
29 Apr.'18 03:54
Ruling Party Candidate Wins MP By-Elections
Givi Chichinadze will represent Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency in the Parliament of Georgia.
28 Apr.'18 09:40
Polls Open for Vani and Khoni MP By-Elections
48,123 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency.
27 Apr.'18 17:23
State Dept’s Europe Affairs Point Man to Visit Tbilisi
Wess Mitchell will meet senior government officials and address the NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum.
27 Apr.'18 13:45
In Quotes: Georgian Politicians on Ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Comeback
Bidzina Ivanishvili will be approved as the Georgian Dream party chairman at the upcoming convention.
26 Apr.'18 18:15
SG Jens Stoltenberg: Georgia NATO’s ‘Very Close’ Partner
The NATO Secretary General says Foreign Ministers meeting tomorrow will recognize the country’s progress.
26 Apr.'18 14:24
Ex-PM Ivanishvili to Chair Georgian Dream Party
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Ivanishvili was ‘best equipped’ to add new dynamism to the party.
26 Apr.'18 11:12
Lawmaker Proposes Criminal Liability for ‘Insult of Religious Feelings’
The parliamentary human rights committee decided to set up a working group for scrutinizing the draft law.
25 Apr.'18 17:21
New Abkhaz Government Head Appointed
Gennady Gagulia has served as the Abkhaz “prime minister” twice - in 1995-1997, and 2002-2003.
25 Apr.'18 14:43
Watchdog Improves Georgia’s Press Freedom Ranking
None of the countries of the former Soviet Union (except the Baltics) are ranked ahead of Georgia.

About Civil Georgia
Civil.Ge © 2001-2024, Daily News Online
Registered office: 2 Dolidze Str, 4-th Floor.
14