De facto Finance Ministry of Abkhazia temporarily stops working due to ongoing unrest

The de facto Ministry of Abkhazia has stopped working ‘until the situation changes’ in the Russian-controlled region, as demonstrators are holding rallies, demanding the resignation of de facto President Raul Khajimba. 

De facto Finance Minister Jansug Nanba has stated earlier today that due to the rallies and the occupation of the administration building of the de facto authorities by demonstrators ‘we were forced to allow our female employees to go home, for their safety.” 

We will not be able to issue salaries and pensions until the situation changes,” Nanba said. 

Russia, which occupies the Georgian region, has responded to the current tension in Abkhazia and urged the de facto government and the opposition to negotiate for peace. 

Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili has stated that “it is the primary interest for the central Georgian government the people living in Abkhazia to be safe.” 

She stated that the situation in Abkhazia is “severe” in many fields due to the Russian-occupation of the region, saying that the absence of any international organisation in the region further complicates settling of any tension. 

Demonstrators in Abkhazia are demanding the annulment of the results of the de facto presidential elections in Abkhazia region held in September 2019 and the resignation of incumbent de facto President Raul Khajimba.