Abkhaz President-Elect Calls All-Abkhaz Convent

Sergey Bagapsh, whose announcement as President-elect was challenged by the outgoing president Vladislav Ardzinba, called all-Abkhaz National gathering (Convent) to take place on October 14 and arbitrate the dispute. The Convent is scheduled to take place in the center of the Abkhaz capital, Sokhumi.

The National Convent dates back to medieval tradition, and is supposed to gather all Abkhaz elderly and the majority of the Abkhaz nation. Traditionally, only ethnic Abkhaz attended. Bagapsh said some 20 thousand people are expected to attend, but it is unclear whether Bagapsh would consider inviting other ethnicities to the gathering on October 14.

According to Bagapsh, the decision to call the Convent is in response to the airing of “compromising materials” regarding himself on Abkhaz TV. “This airing has slashed the moratorium on ‘black PR’. The authorities are fully responsible for the further development of the situation,” Bagapsh said at a press-conference in Sokhumi, Regnum reports. Earlier, the Editor-in-Chief of the Abkhaz TV resigned, quoting immense pressure from the electoral staffs of both Bagapsh and pro-governmental candidate Raul Khajimba.

Observers point out that a decision to call for a Convent is an attempt by Bagapsh to decisively wrestle control from the current authorities, led by the Prime-Minister Nodar Khashba. Khashba was appointed by the outgoing president Vladislav Ardzinba, who yesterday condemned the Central Election Commission (CEC) decision to anounce Bagapsh as President-elect and warned of a “crawling coup” orchestrated by “puppeteers” outside Abkhazia.