Protests escalate in Abkhazia amid Russian investment row
In the capital of Abkhazia, protesters stormed the square in front of the parliament. Earlier, they used a lorry to breach the gate. In Sukhumi today, deputies failed to approve the agenda and postponed the consideration of the issue of ratifying the investment agreement with Russia—a law opposed by many residents and the opposition in Abkhazia. Two people have died in the clashes.
The deputies did not address the law due to a lack of quorum (only 21 out of 35 members of the Abkhazian parliament attended the session). Nonetheless, the residents gathered are demanding that the agreement be completely removed from the agenda and returned for amendments.
Protesters breached the gate in front of the parliament with a lorry, and the crowd stormed the square. Clashes with the police are ongoing. According to media reports, shots have been fired, and the police are using smoke bombs.
According to TASS, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the head of Abkhazia's security services have come out to negotiate with the protesters.
Medical services report that two people have died as a result of the clashes.
What is the cause of the conflict?
In the spring of this year, the authorities of Abkhazia attempted to introduce a law concerning Russian investments. This met with public outrage, leading the republic's president, Aslan Bzhania, to withdraw the proposal.
Currently, however, the opposition accuses the authorities of trying to push through this law once more under the guise of the so-called "inter-ministerial agreement with Russia on the investment activities of legal entities in the territory of Abkhazia."
According to opposition groups, this agreement is a form of lobbying for the interests of entities associated with Alexander Tkachev, who is building a massive tourist complex in the Gagra region and attempting to obtain exemptions from local taxes, duties, and other charges.
Why do residents oppose the construction?
The Abkhazian opposition and many residents first demand that the law regarding the cadastre of real estate be regulated. At present, the public register of lands and buildings is in disarray.
Local communities fear the rapid growth of uncontrolled residential construction will turn the region into a less desirable version of Sochi, increase housing prices, and disadvantage Abkhazians in competing with the wealthier residents of large Russian cities.
There are also concerns that with Russian passports, Georgians, including those who fought against Abkhazia during 1992–1993, will start buying property in Abkhazia. There is a fear that this could lead to demographic changes and new conflicts.
Protests in pro-Russian Abkhazia
An additional issue is the infrastructure and public services – water and electricity supplies are entirely inadequate for such heavy demands. For instance, last winter, planned power outages lasted from 4 to 8 hours a day.
Previously, tensions in the region heightened after local security services detained five opposition members.
Since 1992, Abkhazia has remained outside the jurisdiction of the Georgian authorities. The separatist government of Abkhazia regards itself as an independent state; the unilateral declaration of independence occurred in 1992. Its independence is recognised by only a few countries, including Russia, which recognised it in 2008 after a brief war with Georgia.
