(Adnkronos) – Opponents of Abkhazia’s dependence on Russia broke into the Parliament of the breakaway Georgian region in Sukhumi to protest the agreement with Moscow supported by the pro-Russian ‘leader’ Aslan Bzhaniya under discussion for ratification in the Chamber. An agreement that offers a preferential lane to Russian investments on the Black Sea coast, allowing Russians to purchase new buildings (it is still forbidden in Abkhazia for foreigners to purchase real estate). The agreement is called ‘the apartment law’. The ratification vote scheduled for today has been skipped due to protests. But activists are calling for it to be completely abandoned because it goes against the economic and security interests of the region.
“The confrontation is growing and there is a risk that it will turn into a bloodbath,” Nuzhnaya Gazeta wrote. Russia recognised the independence of both Abkhazia and South Ossetia after the 2008 war. Abkhazia’s economy is almost entirely dependent on Russia, which pays the salaries of public employees as well as social expenses. The activists managed to enter the building after breaking windows. Security forces fired tear gas at the crowd. At least two people were injured.
