**Russian Official Visits Occupied Abkhazia Amid Leadership Crisis**
On January 31, Sergei Kiriyenko, a high-ranking official in the Russian President’s administration, visited occupied Abkhazia. He met with the region’s acting leader, Valery Bganba, and discussed “further cooperation” between Russia and Abkhazia.
Kiriyenko also met with other local officials, including Lasha Ashuba, who is speaker of the parliament in occupied Abkhazia. There were rumors that Kiriyenko might be taking on a new role as Moscow’s curator for the region, but this has not been officially confirmed.
**Leadership Crisis in Occupied Abkhazia**
The visit comes amid a leadership crisis in the region. Aslan Bzhania resigned as de facto leader of occupied Abkhazia in November after mass protests broke out over plans to allow Russian investors to own land and property in the region.
The protesters saw this plan as a threat to Abkhaz sovereignty, and their demonstrations led to negotiations and eventually Bzhania’s resignation. Now, there are presidential elections scheduled for February 15, with Badra Gunba being one of the main candidates.
**Rumors About Kiriyenko’s Role**
There were rumors that Kiriyenko might have met with Gunba during his visit to occupied Abkhazia, but this was not confirmed by official sources. One thing is certain: Kiriyenko’s visit has raised speculation about his new role in the region.
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