Russia starting to supply electricity to Abkhazia as humanitarian aid - acting Abkhaz President Gunba

SUKHUM. Dec 23 (Interfax) - Russia is starting a humanitarian flow of electricity to Abkhazia in response to acting Abkhaz President Badra Gunba's request to the Russian leadership in light of Abkhazia's electricity crisis.

"In response to Abkhazia's request, the leadership of Russia once again extended a helping hand to us and is launching a humanitarian flow electricity to the republic," Gunba told Interfax on Sunday.

"On behalf of the people of Abkhazia I express a sincere gratitude to the leadership of Russia and the entire fraternal Russian nation for their aid," Gunba said.

The population of Abkhazia will receive electricity 20 hours a day starting on December 23, he said. "Shutdowns are possible for two hours at nighttime and for two hours during daytime," he said.

Gunba said in his address to Abkhaz citizens on Saturday that he asked Russia as an ally and strategic partner for humanitarian supplies of energy to Abkhazia in a crisis. "Hopefully, this request will be supported as soon as possible," Gunba said. He regretfully acknowledged that Abkhazia is unable to deal with it on its own in the short term.

"Our country is facing serious challenges. We all witnessed the recent political crisis in November, which could have brought us outside the constitutional framework. The situation had grave consequences. The republic's budget is under an excessive strain, important programs of Russia's aid to Abkhazia were halted, and there is a problem of delays in salaries and social payments," he said. "I think it is quite appropriate to say that it is unacceptable to bring relations with an ally to such state," he said.

The collapse of Abkhazia's energy system is making the lift of the population difficult to bear and disrupts the normal functioning of vital facilities and economy overall, Gunba said. "Blackouts for nine-11 hours a day are a sentence for our healthcare system and education. It puts the lives and health of our children, elderly people and socially vulnerable groups of people at risk. Abkhazia could face a humanitarian disaster," he said.

An unhealthy political struggle endangers the present and the future of the Abkhaz state and the strife deals a serious blow to the country's image, he said.

Gunba mentioned in his address the tragedy which happened in Abkhazia recently, when Vakhtang Golandzia, a member of the People's Assembly, was killed. Gunba said that internal disagreements exacerbated due to the current situation acted as a trigger for it.

The self-destruction process could become irreversible in Abkhazia, he said, calling on everybody to ask themselves what is happening and what deeper abyss could the republic fall into.

"Everyone is burdened by their own share of guilt for what is happening in the republic, both the authorities and the opposition. But the question now is not who is more guilty. Now it is necessary to take specific steps to return light and warmth to the people, to their homes and restore the faith on our country's prospects and the belief in that we would not end up alone with our serious issues," he said.