Abkhazia’s president fled after parliament was seized

Over the past week, Abkhazia has been the site of significant mobilization against the approval of an investment agreement with Russia and the government of President Aslan Bazhania. On Friday, opposition forces seized parliament, forcing the Abkhazian leader to retreat to his native city of Tymishi, located in the south of the self-declared republic.

The first protests were held on Monday, 11 November, when Abkhazian authorities detained several opposition figures. In response, anti-Bazania protesters gathered in front of the State Security Office and blocked the Kodor Bridge, one of the main connections to the capital Sujimi.

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Parliament was scheduled to meet on Friday to debate approval of the agreement on Russian investment. This document sought to authorize Russian investment in the self-proclaimed republic, as well as provide a series of tax benefits to capital from the neighboring country. This would mark a significant change in Abkhazian property policy, as currently only Abkhazian citizens can own land.

This right is protected in the Constitution itself and is the cause of great debate on the political agenda. The opposition fears that the entry of foreign investors will displace local companies and drive Abkhazians from their lands. For its part, the ruling party defends that the deal represents an opportunity to strengthen its battered economy, heavily dependent on Russia.

Ultimately, the parliamentary session was adjourned due to the blockade by protesters who surrounded the building. The opposition demanded that a full session be held to reject the rules and prevent it from being approved in future. However, after several confrontations in the surrounding area, rally participants broke through the Parliament fence and entered through windows throughout the government complex.

By that time, the President had left the Bajania region, so once the administrative buildings were taken over, protesters demanded his resignation and the withdrawal of the investment agreement with Russia.

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After a few hours of his whereabouts becoming unknown, Bazhania reappeared in Tamishi, where he would remain until further notice. The situation in the self-proclaimed republic is currently uncertain. The opposition has begun forming a provisional government of its own and continues to demand Bazhania’s resignation while he tries to verify his support inside and outside Abkhazia for his handling of the crisis. Among these endorsements, he hopes to get Moscow’s support, although the Kremlin appears unwilling to intervene directly.

Relations with Russia have been the biggest cause of all this difficulty. Relations between Moscow and Sukhumi have deteriorated in recent months, with Moscow pressuring Sukhumi to promote economic openness, while the tourism sector is too juicy for the Russian capital. In this context, Friday’s uprising demonstrated the Abkhazian population’s deep rejection of foreign investment, a protest so strong that it managed to expel the president from his office.

Despite appearances, opponents have made it clear from the first moment that their protest is not against Russia, but specifically against the investment agreement. However, even if the agreement is withdrawn, there is no sign that Moscow will stop being interested in accessing Abkhazia’s markets, so Bazhania – or anyone who replaces it – faces the same dilemma. Will have to.