Protesters stormed the parliament of the Russian-backed breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia on Friday and demanded the resignation of its leader over an unpopular investment agreement with Moscow. The self-styled president of the region, Aslan Bzhania, said he had no intention of stepping down or fleeing. He said talks were proceeding with opposition representatives. But opposition representatives rejected the president’s statement, and news reports said they had broken off the talks. Russia said it was following the “crisis situation” with concern and urged its citizens to avoid travel to Abkhazia. Russia recognized Abkhazia and another breakaway region, South Ossetia, as independent states in 2008 after it defeated Georgia in a five-day war. It maintains troop bases in both regions and props up their economies.

Site Logo Search Search Text… Europe Protesters demand the resignation of the head of the Russian-backed breakaway republic of Georgia. November 15, 2024, 9:52 PM. By Reuters. Protesters gather around Abkhazian and Russian flags outside the parliament building of Georgia’s separatist territory of Abkhazia on November 15, 2024, as captured in a video broadcast by the AIASHARA Independent Agency. Protesters gather around Abkhazian and Russian flags outside the parliament building of Georgia’s separatist territory of Abkhazia on November 15, 2024, as captured in a video broadcast by the AIASHARA Independent Agency. Protesters stormed the parliament of Abkhazia, a Russian-backed separatist Georgian territory, on Friday, demanding the leader’s resignation over an unpopular investment agreement with Moscow. The self-proclaimed president of the region

However, opposition leaders rejected the president’s remark, and news sources reported they had called off the discussions. Russia expressed alarm over the “crisis situation” in Abkhazia and warned its nationals not to travel there. Russia recognized Abkhazia and another breakaway province, South Ossetia, as independent entities in 2008, following a five-day battle against Georgia. It keeps troop bases in both regions and supports their economies. Protesters in Abkhazia’s capital, Sukhumi, used a truck to smash open the metal gates that encircle parliament. They then climbed through the windows after removing metal bars. According to opposition leader Temur Gulia, demonstrators initially sought the termination of the investment deal.

Protesters also broke into presidential administration buildings located in the same compound as the parliament. According to emergency services, at least nine persons have been taken to the hospital. Bzhania, writing on the Telegram messaging app, stated that he and other leaders are “staying in place and will keep working.” “Please do not panic. I am remaining in Abkhazia and will continue to work as I have,” Bzhania wrote, adding that the first duty was to clean up after the violence. “At this time, talks are going on with the opposition.” Opposition activist Akhra Bzhania dismissed the remark, telling Reuters that the president had “lost his legitimacy.” “His refusal to resign today changes nothing.”

According to the Tass news agency, opposition representative Kan Kvarchia announced that all talks had been halted. Bzhania’s administration later stated that the president, a former chief of the state security service who assumed power in 2020, was in his coastal home village of Tamysh. Another opposition leader, Eshsou Kakalia, told Reuters that protestors would not leave the government complex unless Bzhania promised to retire. The presidential administration announced in a statement that officials were prepared to withdraw the investment deal. According to Olesya Vartanyan, an independent regional specialist, the crisis was the result of increasing Russian pressure to extract more from Abkhazia in exchange for financial help.

“The Russians are paying them — they want something back,” she added during a phone chat. “There is always this question: ‘Why are we supporting you guys and you’re not even allowing Russian citizens to buy property there?'” If Bzhania falls, he would become the third municipal leader to be deposed in a similar manner since 2008. Vartanyan said Moscow’s traditional strategy was to let periodic crises play out before striking arrangements with the next leader. “Every single Abkhaz leader after they got recognized by Moscow became sort of a hostage to Moscow,” according to her. “When you come to power, you have to be loyal to Moscow and then you have to find a way to cooperate.” The majority of the globe acknowledges