Approximately 60 ‘elders’ in the breakaway republic of Abkhazia will come together today and meet with the two deadlocked presidential candidates Sergey Bagapsh and Raul Khajimba in an attempt to solve the crisis that has persisted in the de facto republic since disputed presidential elections occurred on October 3, according to the Itar-tass news agency.
Prime Minister Nodar Khashba will reportedly also take place in the talks, which are the second of their kind to take place during the crisis. The council first convened after events on November 12, wherein pro-bagapsh supporters stormed several governmental buildings in the republic’s capital of Sokhumi which resulted in the death of one woman.
Both candidates are holding strong to their positions regarding the results of October 3 election. Sergey Bagapsh, the opposition candidate, asserts that the election results, which gave him a clear victory in the race, are valid and is planning an inauguration ceromony for December 6. However, Raul Khajimba, who is supported by the Kremlin and the republic’s outgoing President, claims that the election was flawed and that a republic-wide revote must occur, as was decreed by the President of the breakaway republic.