Abkhazian opposition calls president's political decisions catastrophic, demands his resignation
SUKHUM. Nov 30 (Interfax) - The opposition Amtsakhara (Signal Lights) Party and the Bloc of Opposition Forces in Abkhazia are demanding the early resignation of the republic's president, Raul Khadjimba.
"We demand the president's resignation out of the necessity to protect the state of Abkhazia from total destruction. The series of the gross mistakes [he] made, which we call catastrophic, require a change of government," Amtsakhara leader Alkhas Kvitsiniya said at a party congress on Wednesday.
The opposition accuses the leader of failing to deliver on his campaign promises, dividing society and pursuing inefficient economic and social policies.
In a resolution approved at the congress the Abkhazian opposition accuses the country's leadership of reluctance to secure national accord and calls on Khadjimba to resign.
The opposition party also demanded that the parliament call an early presidential election.
"In the event that Raul Khadjimba fails to hear our call and to make a decision on early voluntary resignation as President of Abkhazia, we, together with the Bloc of Opposition Forces, will announce a people's gathering to be held in Sukhum on December 15, 2016," the concluding section of the resolution said.
The opposition also accuses the authorities of lacking "an articulate economic policy and a real program to combat crime and corruption." The congress participants also said "the authorities took the wrong course by reinforcing fiscal methods of filling up the budget and introducing an import VAT and a customs duty on nut exports."
"The population is becoming much poorer and whole industries of the national economy, such as construction, are shrinking," according to the resolution.
Meanwhile, the country's cabinet is holding a meeting of Khadjimba's supporters from among activists of Aruaa (Warriors), a public organization of the 1992-93 Georgian-Abkhazian war veterans, and from the pro-government Forum for the National Unity of Abkhazia.
Speaking in front of his supporters, the president said that having "only opposition forces wanting my resignation is not enough for making a decision."
"Quite a few people voted for me in the presidential election. I consider it wrong that only opposition representatives want to decide my fate. If all people get together and tell me to go, then I will," Khadjimba said. At the same time he noted that he feels strong and capable enough to carry on.
"I did not deceive you and am not going to, over the next three years Abkhazia's budget will soar to 7-8 billion rubles. We have such a possibility, as long as we don't steal from the state and approach our work correctly," Khadjimba said.