Russia favors a swift normalization of the situation in the separatist republic of Abkhazia and hopes that it will remain within constitutional bounds, said Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president.

“We, of course, are in favor of a speedy normalization of the situation in the republic and would like this situation to remain within the absolutely constitutional framework,” Peskov told journalists on Monday.

This was the Kremlin representative's response to a question about how the Kremlin perceives the events in Abkhazia, Interfax reports.

When asked whether the protests in the republic could affect bilateral relations, Peskov replied that relations between Russia and Abkhazia are "a very important priority of our foreign policy."

This marks the first official comment from Moscow following a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry representative on November 15. Maria Zakharova had earlier criticized the opposition forces, which, in her words, "did not consider it possible to resolve disagreements with the legitimate authorities of the country through a civilized, mutually respectful dialogue and went beyond the legal framework, provoking an escalation of the conflict." The statement noted that the Russian side, "without interfering in the internal processes in Abkhazia, expects that the situation that has arisen will be resolved exclusively by peaceful political means."

On the same day, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, following the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, advised Russian tourists to refrain from traveling to Abkhazia and urged Russians currently in the region to return to Russia if possible.

In Sukhumi, opposition representatives continue to control the complex of government buildings. According to the Information Center of the Abkhazian President, "armed people do not allow employees of the Cabinet of Ministers to enter their workplaces." Acting Minister of Culture Dinara Smyr noted that the entrance to the administrative building is blocked by armed individuals, preventing employees from accessing their offices.

Aslan Bzhania has declared his readiness to step down as president, provided that the protesters vacate the government building complex in Sukhumi. However, the protesters are demanding his unconditional resignation.

According to the latest reports, the opposition agrees that after Bzhania's resignation, Vice President Badra Gunba will act as president, and an opposition representative will head the Cabinet of Ministers. Negotiations between the authorities and the opposition, with the help of intermediaries, are ongoing.

According to the RESPUBLICA Telegram channel, members of parliament are currently gathering in the parliamentary session hall.

"The meeting is taking place behind closed doors. It is difficult to say yet how many deputies have attended. The Coordination Council ensures the security and unhindered access of deputies to parliament," the publication writes.