Abkhazian Defense Minister Says President Proposed To Postpone Elections To August

SUKHUM (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd May, 2019) Abkhazian President Raul Khadzhimba proposed to move the presidential election in the country to August, Defense Minister Mirab Kishmaria told representatives of the opposition.

"The president proposes [to postpone the election] until August 25," the minister told Teimuraz Khishba, the leader of the national movement for the protection of Abkhazia's statehood, lawmaker Dmitry Dbar and former Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba.

The representative of the Abkhazian opposition, in turn, said that they would discuss that proposal.

After the talks with Kishmaria, they left for negotiations with the president.

The opposition has been holding protests near the building of the republic's parliament in Sukhum since Monday, demanding the resignation of Khadzhimba. The rallies began after the parliament refused the opposition's demand to postpone the presidential election from July 21 to fall due to a key opposition candidate falling ill.