Coffin with the first President of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba's Body Delivered to Abkhazia

SUKHUM -- On March 5 at 9:00pm a Russia's EMERCOM plane that had delivered a coffin with the body of the first President of the republic Vladislav Ardzinba to Abkhazia landed at the Sukhum airport.

At the airport the plane was met by the President of the republic Sergey Bagapsh, the Vice-President Alexander Ankvab, the Speaker of the Parliament Nugzar Ashuba, MPs, members of the government, heads of political movements, parties, war veterans, young people, numerous republic's residents from different corners of Abkhazia.

The guard of honor from the military college cadets and the the Defense Ministry military orchestra had been formed up on the airport runaway.

From Moscow to Abkhazia the body of the ex-president was accompanied by the Prime Minister of Abkhazia Sergey Shamba, Vladislav Ardzinba's spouse Svetlana Dzhergenia, daughter Madina, the Ambassador of Abkhazia to Russia Igor Akhba.

From the airport the coffin with Ardzinba's body was delivered to Sukhum, the house where he had lived the last years.

Hundreds came to the house to pay last tribute to the First President of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba.

Vladislav Ardzinba's funeral is scheduled for March 9. Mourning over Ardzinba's death will be declared for March 7-9, and on March 8 and 9 the coffin with the body of the first President of Abkhazia will be placed at the Abkhaz state philharmonic society.

According to his spouse, Vladislav Ardzinba wanted to be buried in the native village of Eshera of the Sukhum district near the Glory Museum.