Abkhazian President Alsan Bzhania left the republic’s capital Sukhum on Friday, rejecting the opposition’s demand to step down and hold early elections.

The opposition in Abkhazia halted talks with government officials and announced plans to build up its forces in the seized governmental district.

According to initial reports, the president withdrew from the parliament a bill to ratify an investment agreement with Russia, criticized by the opposition. However, his press service refuted this information early on Saturday.