In a statement issued on March 1 the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned attack against breakaway Abkhazia?s Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab as an attempt ?to destabilize situation? the unrecognized republic.
?Against the background of recently finished election process in Abkhazia, this [assassination attempt] aimed at destabilization of gradually normalizing situation there [in Abkhazia] and at complicating of Georgian-Abkhaz [conflict] resolution [process],? the Russian Foreign Ministry statement reads.
?Russia, as a facilitator [in the peace process], supports aspirations of the Abkhazia?s new leadership to secure peace in Abkhazia,? the Russian Foreign Ministry states.
A group of unknown gunmen opened fire at the Abkhaz Prime Minister?s convoy outside the capital Sokhumi late on February 28. The local Abkhaz television reported that in the moment of the attack Prime Minister Ankvab survived because he was riding in the car of Vice-Premier Leonid Lakerbaia and not in his own.