Abkhazian Leader’s Death Doesn’t Change a Thing: Georgia Foreign Ministry

Abkhazia president Sergei Bagapsh’s death won’t change the political region in the region, said Georgia’s deputy foreign affairs minister Nino Kalandadze. According to her, after some time, there will be elections in Abkhazia, “but at a time when this territory is still occupied, any decision made there won’t be legitimate.” Kalandadze believes that no one has the right to hold “separatist elections” in Georgia.

“These elections, from an international point of view, are considered illegitimate and have no legal force. Accordingly, for us, the situation remains unchanged,” he said, according to the BBC Russian service.

Recall, Bagapsh died early morning on Sunday in a Moscow hospital. The 62-year-old had been moved to the hospital a week ago to undergo surgery on his right lung. The surgery was considered successful; however, over days his condition deteriorated. Bagapsh assumed the post of president of the de-facto republic of Abkhazia on Jan. 12, 2005. He was re-elected to a second term in Dec. 2009.