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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The leader of the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia resigned on Tuesday after weeks of protests organized by the opposition.
"In order to maintain stability and constitutional order in the country ... I resign from my post," Reuters quoted Aslan Bzhania’s signed document posted on the Telegram messaging channel of his press office.
Bzhania had faced weeks of growing tensions, with the opposition demanding his resignation, calling for new elections and seizing buildings and bridges in protests against an investment agreement with Russia.
Bzhania's condition for resignation was that the protesters leave the parliament building in the capital of Sukhumi. The parliament was supposed to ratify the investment deal on Friday, but postponed the move due to the protests, according to Reuters.
Russia’s TASS news agency, citing the region’s parliament speaker, reported that there will be an early election.
Russia earlier said it was following the "crisis situation" with concern and urged its citizens to avoid travel to Abkhazia.
Russia recognised Abkhazia and another breakaway region, South Ossetia, as independent states in the aftermath of the 2008 Russo-Georgian war.