New Abkhaz de facto Prime Minister Says No Closer Ties with Georgia

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, December 4, 2002) – Genadi Gagulia, appointed to the post of the Prime Minister of the self-declared Abkhaz Republic last week, says his goal is to break Abkhazia’s international isolation.

In the interview to the Russian daily Izvestia Gagulia stated, “Abkhazia hopes to achieve this goal with Russia’s assistance.”

“70% of the Abkhazia’s population is Russian citizen. I am the Russian citizen as well,” Abkhaz de facto Prime Minister said.

He stated that Abkhazia must be independent. “I do not see any perspective for closer ties with Georgia,” Gagulia added.

Leader of the Abkhaz separatists Vladislav Ardzinba dismissed his prime minister Anri Jergenia due to failure to fulfill the budget for 2002 on November 29 and appointed Genadi Gagulia.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)