Sukhum/Agency Caucasus – As many as five thousand people staged a peaceful demonstration in central Sukhum, capital of Abkhazia, on Tuesday in favor of the Russian Federation’s warm attitude towards the Abkhazians.
Members of political as well as social movements, including President Sergei Bagapsh and the whole body of administration, took part in the demonstration. It was meant to display a warm welcome of Russia’s lift of its embargo on and its decision to take steps further in the direction of officializing its social, economic and cultural relations with Abkhazia.
It was made clear in a mass address that the Abkhazian people were grateful to Vladimir Putin, now Prime Minister of Russia, for his support to the Russian citizens in Abkhazia. "It is especially after Putin became the president that Russia adopted a far better approach to Abkhazia. And then the Abkhazian people felt that they were not alone at all, because they had Russia on their side."
It was also emphasized that steps by the Russian administration towards having improved relations with Abkhazia would definitely reinforce the ties between the two countries.
The Abkhazians stated that they were also grateful to the Russian administration for its attitude towards the military threat posed by Georgia. "Not war but peace is necessary for the Abkhazians. Peace is a prerequisite for economic revitalization and betterment of standards of living in a multinational environment."
The Abkhazians expressed their hope that Dmitri Medvedev, new President of Russia, would continue to support their country.
The demonstrators carried placards reading "Russia, Yes; NATO, NO," "We trust Putin and Medvedev," "Russia and Abkhazia are trustable partners," "Russia, save your citizens," "Russia: A guarantee of peace and stability."
Political party representatives also address the demonstrators before the demonstration ended. KU/ÖZ/FT
