Abkhazia leader questions Russia's involvement

The Vice-President of the breakaway Georgian territory and would-be independent nation of Abkhazia resigned last week citing, in part, the Abkhaz government's coziness with Russia.

Raul Khadjimba, now the former Vice-President, stepped down to protest the way the government of President Sergei Bagapsh is oppressing the political opposition in Abkhazia – a land of 300,000 people along the Black Sea sandwiched between Russia and Georgia. Khadjimba also said his efforts in fighting corruption in Abkhazia were being stifled by Bagapsh's government.

He went on to criticize agreements signed between Abkhazia and Russia that put Russia in charge of protecting Abkhazia's border with Georgia, saying the agreements were never debated by the government. Abkhazia has also signed agreements allowing Russia to base troops at former Soviet-era bases on their territory and to renovate a port for use by Russia's Black Sea Naval Fleet.

And Russia is also busy signing economic agreements with Abkhazia as well - including a deal signed last week with Russia's Rosneft to prospect for gas and oil reserves off Abkhazia's Black Sea coastline.

Raul Khadjimba may challenge Bagapsh for the presidency in the next round of elections in 2010.