No Trends Towards Joining Russia in Abkhazia, Says Sergey Shamba

There are no trends towards joining Russia in either the political or societal circles of Abkhazia, stated Sergey Shamba, the secretary of the Security Council of Abkhazia, according to TASS news agency.

“First of all, our Constitution and legislation do not permit it, and there are no such sentiments in society. We have paid a high price for our independence; this is the result of a long struggle of several generations of our people, thus this issue is not being discussed in our political and societal circles,” Shamba emphasized.

He added that the relations between Abkhazia and Russia as allied and strategic partners should develop with “the closest ties.”

Commenting on the statement made by the President of South Ossetia, Anatoly Bibilov, regarding the intention to take legal steps toward joining Russia in the near future, Shamba stated that Abkhazia supports South Ossetia’s aspiration to unite with North Ossetia.