NOVO-OGARYOVO, August 28 (RIA Novosti) — Russia and Abkhazia will sign a new treaty on common security space by the end of the year, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday, commenting on the results of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with his Abkhazian counterpart.
"During the conversation, the sides discussed the need to sign by the end of the year a new treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, aimed at boosting integration between the two sovereign states. This document will envisage establishing a common defense and security space," he said.
Abkhazia’s newly elected President Raul Hajimba also said earlier this week the new intergovernmental agreement with Russia could be signed by the year-end. He also stressed that in light of the recently signed EU-Georgia Association Agreement, Abkhazia needed to focus on fortifying its southern border and broadening cooperation with Russia, as a guarantor of the country’s independence.
Georgia’s former Abkhazian republic held a presidential election on Sunday after a major split between the government and the opposition triggered a wave of protests across the country, forcing president Alexander Ankvab to step down on June 1.
On Monday, Batal Tabagua, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Abkhazia, announced that the presidential poll had been recognized as valid with no significant violations registered. Opposition leader Hajimba, who formerly served as the country’s vice president and prime minister, secured victory garnering 50.57 per cent of the votes.
Abkhazia broke away from Georgia following an ethnically tinged war in 1992-1993, just after the Soviet Union collapsed. The state has been officially recognized by a handful of countries, including Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru. Tuvalu recognized Abkhazia’s independence in September 2011 but withdrew its recognition in March 2014. Most countries continue to consider Abkhazia part of Georgia.
