TBILISI. Jan 30 (Interfax-AVN) - The Abkhaz military elite is concerned over growing political tensions in the country and demands that the government ensures constitutional order.
"Several high- and mid-ranking officials of the Abkhaz army sent an address to President Vyacheslav Ardzinba and the national government, expressing their concern over growing political tensions and demanding that the leaders take well-conceived and solid measures aimed at maintaining the constitutional order," a high-ranking official told Interfax-Military News Agency by phone on Friday.
The situation in Abkhazia deteriorated after the state-owned Abkhazles (Abkhaz forest) company was transformed into the State Forest Committee. Most timber industry workers disagreed with the decision. They were supported by the Amtsakhara public and political movement that unites Georgian-Abkhaz war veterans and leaders of independent trade unions. The forest opposition held a rally near the Abkhaz government headquarters on Wednesday. Its participants demanded Ardzinba's resignation, saying that he cannot rule the state because of his poor health and that his entourage is making use of it.
"Abkhazia's military elite is opposed to the anti- constitutional methods that some forces are using, even more so against ultimate demands of the president's early resignation. Naturally, we will not let it happen," the officer said.
"The country's leaders should find a way to solve all pressing political issues in a peaceful and constitutional way, not letting the society fall apart, for it will play in the hands of those who support a military solution of the Georgian-Abkhaz problem," he said.