Aslan Bzhania sworn in as de facto president of Russian-occupied Abkhazia

Aslan Bzhania has been sworn in as the fifth de-facto leader of Russian-occupied Abkhazia for a five-year term on April 23.

In his six-minute inauguration speech Bzhania named the restoration of public confidence in the government as one of the main tasks, though he mentioned that the lives of citizens can not be improved quickly and hard work is ahead.

Bzhania thanked other presidential candidates and said that a new political culture is being formed in Abkhazia.

I hope that we will work together to resist political extremism and other threats facing the country. Also, I hope we will work together to transform and strengthen state institutions and the sustainable development of the people of Abkhazia”, said Bzhania.

In his speech after the inauguration, he named the strengthening and development of comprehensive cooperation with the main ally and strategic partner, Russia, as the priority of Abkhazia’s foreign policy.

• Opposition ‘presidential candidate’ in occupied Abkhazia supports ‘direct dialogue between Tbilisi and Sokhumi’
• 15 countries react to ‘presidential elections’ in occupied Abkhazia

Before and after elections, Bzhania said that he supports a new format of negotiations with Tbilisi. At the same time, he says that Georgia should recognise the independence of Abkhazia.

No international organizations in the world recognises the elections in occupied Abkhazia, except for a few countries which have recognized Abkhazia's independence. Among them are Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria.