The de-facto president of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia says he is resigning following days of political upheaval.
Aleksandr Ankvab announced on June 1 that he was stepping down following consultations with aides and supporters in order to maintain stability in Abkhazia.
In his statement, Ankvab called on the nation "to show restraint, not yield to provocation and to refrain from any rallies.”
Abkhazia's Security Council Secretary Nugzar Ashuba told Interfax news agency that an interim prime minister will be named within days.
The resignation comes after demonstrators on May 27 stormed the presidential administration building in the regional capital, Sukhumi, to demand the government's resignation.
On May 31, the Abkhaz parliament declared Ankvab "unable" to perform his duties as president and scheduled an early election on August 24.
It also selected the speaker of parliament, Valery Bganba, as interim president.
Ankvab, who sheltered at a Russian military base, has denounced the moves as unconstitutional.
Ankvab was elected leader of Abkhazia in 2011 after the death of Sergei Bagapsh, who had led the state from 2005.
Abkhazia separated from Georgia after the short Russian-Georgian war in 2008, but only a handful of other states have recognized the region's declaration of independence.
Aleksandr Ankvab announced on June 1 that he was stepping down following consultations with aides and supporters in order to maintain stability in Abkhazia.
In his statement, Ankvab called on the nation "to show restraint, not yield to provocation and to refrain from any rallies.”
Abkhazia's Security Council Secretary Nugzar Ashuba told Interfax news agency that an interim prime minister will be named within days.
The resignation comes after demonstrators on May 27 stormed the presidential administration building in the regional capital, Sukhumi, to demand the government's resignation.
Analysis: Why The President Stepped Down
On May 31, the Abkhaz parliament declared Ankvab "unable" to perform his duties as president and scheduled an early election on August 24.
It also selected the speaker of parliament, Valery Bganba, as interim president.
Ankvab, who sheltered at a Russian military base, has denounced the moves as unconstitutional.
Ankvab was elected leader of Abkhazia in 2011 after the death of Sergei Bagapsh, who had led the state from 2005.
Abkhazia separated from Georgia after the short Russian-Georgian war in 2008, but only a handful of other states have recognized the region's declaration of independence.
!["Those [couples] who get divorced for trivial reasons or no reason at all, bringing tears into the eyes of their children, obey the commands of the [evil] genies," Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov says in an Instagram video. (file photo)](https://gdb.rferl.org/FDD765CF-D974-4A45-8D31-63677A72A2D8_cx0_cy19_cw0_w33_r1.jpg)
