Many people in Abkhazia were surprised to learn that a prominent vice-premier, Daur Tarba, has resigned his post. The authorities have not given their commentaries, thus causing even more rumours. Experts believe that the vice-premier has decided to resign after a stormy talk with President Sergei Bagapsh. Other experts hint that Tarba’s political ambitions have grown, he is going to run for president in 2014 and resigned seeking to prepare for the elections, which will take place in 2014. The zest is that Tarba is the head of the pro-presidential party “United Abkhazia”. He has managed to conduct a successful electoral campaign during the recent local government elections. This party has won landslide victories in all the regions of the republic.
Experts suppose that Daur Tarba quitted to avoid being associated with the scandalous matter of Russian funds and the “assimilation”, allocated for the restoration of Abkhazia. This issue is subject to opposition criticism. If this is the truth, the version that Tarba is going to run for President becomes even more plausible.
The elections are to be held in 2014. Sergey Bagapsh cannot run for president this time. The major candidates are Sergei Shamba and Alexandr Ankvaba. Observers do not rule out the possibility that a third candidate may win in this struggle between the two political heavyweights. Especially when he is so well-known in official Abkhaz circles.
Oleg Kushaty. Exclusive to VK
