Paper: Bagapsh Inauguration Turned into ‘Forum of Separatists’

An article published on February 14 by the Russian daily Kommersant described the presidential inauguration ceremony of  Sergey Bagapsh in the breakaway Abkhazia as a “forum of separatists, which was openly backed by Russia.”

Delegations from secessionist regions of South Ossetia, Transdnestria and Nagorny-Karabakh, as well as officials from the Russia’s North Caucasus Republics and regions, representatives from Moscow’s Mayors office and a group of Russian parliamentarians attended the inauguration ceremony in the Abkhaz capital Sokhumi on February 12, Kommersant reported.
 
“Only representatives of the Chechen Republic were absent, because Chechen separatism is not backed by Russia and their presence would have been a vivid demonstration of Russia’s double standard policy,” the paper says.

Georgia’s other secessionist region of South Ossetia was represented by the de facto President of the region, Eduard Kokoity.

“Abkhazia will be an independent and strong state. Many react badly to the relationship between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Republic of Abkhazia. I want to tell them: we will continue the traditions historically launched by our ancestors, which are directed at strengthening the friendship and brotherhood between our peoples. We will multiply these traditions; we will cooperate for the sake of the future of our peoples, for the sake of strengthening the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” the Kommersant quoted Kokoity as saying.
 
“Today we not only welcome the President of Abkhazia, it can be said, that a forum of the entire North Caucasus has gathered here today. Certain forces try to dictate new rules for cooperation within the Caucasus. I want to tell these forces: nobody will ever teach us – Abkhazians, Adigeis, Kabardians, Balkarians, Karachay-Cherkessia’s, Daghestanis, Ossetians and Russians – how to live. And let everybody know that they will fail to agitate the situation. I hope we will prove to everybody that the Caucasus is not a ground for experiments. Long Live the Republic of Abkhazia! Long Live the Republic of South Ossetia! Long Live our Union with great Russia,” Kokoity stated.

In his inaugural speech Sergey Bagapsh stressed that Abkhazia will be open for investment and for becoming “an important international transit” territory. “We are ready to discuss these issues with every state interested in it. But with one condition – the unconditional respect for [the] independence [of Abkhazia],” Sergey Bagapsh added.

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