SUKHUMI/MOSCOW. Dec 7 (Interfax-AVN) - Followers of Sergei Bagapsh, a candidate for the presidency of the breakaway province of Abkhazia, have lifted their blockade of a number of governmental offices in Sukhumi, said Astamur Taniya, an aide to incumbent Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba, on Tuesday.
The governmental buildings are now under the control of the Abkhaz State Security Service, Taniya said.
The blockade was lifted under an agreement signed by Bagapsh and Raul Khajimba, who will be Bagapsh's running mate in the self-proclaimed republic's repeat presidential election, on Monday.
Russia's Channel One television reported that under the two men's agreement, their armed units will have to leave the House of Government and the Abkhaz television headquarters seized more than a month ago later today.
Commenting on the agreement, Khajimba told Channel One that "the first step today is to withdraw all units deployed in the city."
"I think that this measure will play a positive role in establishing an environment for normal work. I am referring to lifting the blockade of all buildings and organizations that are currently under the control of these armed units," he said.
Bagapsh, for his part, told the Russian television station that "it is high time to tell our people to leave. It means that life will return to normal."