You're reading: Official: Abkhaz president staying at Russian military base in Gudauta for assassination threat

Abkhaz President Alexander Ankvab's security is endangered, and therefore he is staying at a Russian military base in Gudauta, Abkhaz Prime Minister Leonid Lakerbaya said.

“I said yesterday that the president may return [to Sukhumi]. But information appeared that two groups were preparing an assassination attempt on him on his way. Therefore, it’s been cancelled,” Lakerbaya said at a press conference, which was held not at the Cabinet of ministers but in the presidential residence.

“Someone really wants something bad to happen to the president,” Lakerbaya said. “But this would be a disaster for all of Abkhazia – not because of a particular person but because of what presidential power symbolizes,” he said.