Gunba took office as President of Abkhazia

Vice-President of Abkhazia Badra Gunba said that he was beginning to fulfill the duties of the president of the republic. Gunba's video message was published by the press service of the President of Abkhazia on November 19 in his Telegram channel.

"In connection with the decision of the People's Assembly of the Republic of Abkhazia on the resignation of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia Aslan Giorgievich Bzhania and, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia, I began to fulfill the powers and duties of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia," Gunba said.

He added that he gave instructions to all bodies of state administration and their heads to fulfill their functions in accordance with the laws of the republic in order to preserve and ensure the activities of the state.

Bzhania resigned earlier in the day, fulfilling an agreement with the opposition made amid protests in the country. Later, his resignation was accepted by the parliament of the republic. Together with the president, the head of the government of Abkhazia Alexander Ankvab will leave his post, the other ministers will retain their posts. Demonstrators, in turn, are obliged to leave the territory of the complex of government buildings.

Before that, on November 11, clashes took place near the building of the State Security Service of Abkhazia in Sukhumi. Prosecutor General of the republic Adgur Agrba said that law enforcers detained several people at that time, but then released them.

Later, on November 15, a truck of protesters broke down the gates of the parliament fence. some of the demonstrators got into the internal territory. Abkhazian media reported that the opposition clashed with police. Bzhania said the next day that he was ready to resign if the protesters left parliament.