Fri Nov 15 14:39:41 UTC 2024: ## Abkhazia in Turmoil: Protesters Storm Parliament, Demand Investment Deal Withdrawal
**Sukhumi, Abkhazia** – Tensions have boiled over in Abkhazia as protesters stormed the parliament building in the regional capital of Sukhumi, clashing with police and demanding the withdrawal of an investment agreement with Russia.
The unrest erupted on Friday as the parliament was set to vote on ratifying the agreement, which would allow Russian entities to invest in Abkhazian property. Protesters, fearing the deal would price them out of the market, used a truck to break through the parliament gates and gained access to the building, chanting slogans and vandalizing the interior.
At least eight people were injured in the clashes and taken to hospital. Opposition leader Eshsou Kakalia, claiming control of the parliament building, announced their intention to seek the resignation of Abkhazia’s president, Aslan Bzhania.
The presidential administration, responding to the chaos, announced their intention to withdraw the investment agreement, acknowledging public concerns.
Abkhazia, a region that broke away from Georgia in 1993, remains a popular tourist destination for Russians, and the proposed deal has been met with resistance from some Abkhazians who fear their country is becoming a client state of Moscow.
This latest upheaval echoes past protests in 2014 and 2020, which resulted in the resignation of two presidents due to accusations of corruption and electoral disputes.
The unrest highlights the volatile political climate in Abkhazia, where the public’s frustration with the government and concerns about the region’s dependence on Russia are bubbling over. The future of the agreement remains uncertain, as the situation continues to unfold.
First Piper 