Unrest on Russia’s southern border: After mass demonstrations government protesters have stormed the palace of the president in the capital, Sukhum. The opposition in Abkhazia wants to take power.

Between 5000 and 10,000 protesters – according to estimates – closed on Tuesday before the palace of President Alexander Ankvab in Sukhum. They demanded the resignation of the decried as corrupt leadership of Abkhazia, they stormed the building.

One of the opposition leaders, Raul Khadzhimba, declared that they would take over the business of government, at least “temporarily”. Ankvab is since 2011 President of Abkhazia, a tiny strip of land on the Black Sea, which today only has about 240,000 inhabitants.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the area had declared its independence from Georgia. The result was a brutally from both sides led war between Abkhazia and the Georgian central government in Tbilisi. Around 8,000 people died and 250,000 were displaced.

Abkhazia is under the protection of Russian troops. After the five-day war in August 2008, Moscow has the “Republic of Abkhazia” recognized, however, the only country with an international weight.

Abkhazia Unrest:International isolation harms economic

The discontent had grown in Abkhazia over the years. The Black Sea coast and the mountains made ​​Abkhazia during Soviet times to a holiday paradise, except Russian tourists shun international visitors visit the area today though.

The international isolation damages the economy, two thirds of the state budget comes from Russian agents. Corruption is rampant, President Ankvab said to have connections to the Russian mafia. “Our president behaves like a Tsar,” complains about Vitaly Gabnia, head of the Abkhaz Veteran Association. Ankvab exaggerating the country into bankruptcy.

The wrath of the Abkhazians to their president has nationalist overtones. Ankvab maintained good relations with ethnic Georgians living in Gali, a company controlled by the Abkhaz town. Ankvab had issued passports to Abkhaz Gali Georgians, opposition groups condemned it as endangering the “Abkhazian sovereignty.”

After opposition Information Ankvab said to have left the capital Sukhum. The President himself denies this, he speaks of the attempt of “armed revolution”. The heads of the security authorities said that if they were loyal to the “elected president of the country”.

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