Riza Pasha wanted to keep up the defense of the besieged city but Essad Pasha wanted to continue his secret negotiations with Montenegro, which were done through the counsel of Russia in Shkodra. Essad Pasha's plan was to hand over Shkodra to the Serbs and Montenegrins as the price for their support in his attempt to proclaim himself King of Albania. Essad Pasha handed Shkodra over to General Vukotić.