Abkhazia's leader dies in Moscow hospital

The leader of Georgian breakaway territory Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh died in the early hours Sunday in a Moscow hospital, local media reported.

The 62-year-old Bagapsh underwent a lung surgery on May 21 in the hospital. Russian and French surgeons who performed the operation on his right lung regarded the surgery as successful. But Bagapsh developed lung failure and artificial ventilation of his lungs was ordered, reported Interfax news agency.

Bagapsh was born on March 4, 1949, in Sukhumi. In January 2005 he was elected as the top leader of Abkhazia.

Russia recognized independence of Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia from Georgia after a brief armed conflict in August 2008. Besides Russia, only four more countries recognized their independence.

Source: Xinhua

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