how the situation with protests in Abkhazia is developing –

Protests have not subsided in Abkhazia for several days. At first, the protesters blocked the highway and three bridges, and then seized the government complex and the administration of President Aslan Bzhania. The protesters demanded the resignation of the head of state.

Amid the unrest, Bzhania moved to the building of the State Security Service, from where he continued to govern the country. Later, the president called what was happening an attempted coup. At the same time, he said that he was ready to leave his post, but in this case the opposition should vacate the seized buildings and allow the government to do its job.

If Bzhania resigns, the leadership of the country will pass to Vice President Badr Gumba. On November 17, in a video message, one of the leaders of the protesters, the chairman of the public organization “Abkhaz People’s Movement” Adgur Ardzinba, said that he agreed to this option, emphasizing that he insisted on dissolving the government and appointing a loyal figure to the post of prime minister.

“Bzhania says that after his departure he wants to do… O. President Badr Gunbu. In this case, we propose, as a compromise, to dissolve the cabinet of ministers and appoint our own person as prime minister. So that if a member of Bzhania’s team is nominated for elections, administrative resources will not be used,” Ardzinba said.

Currently, representatives of the supreme power have entered into negotiations with the leaders of the protesters, but no agreements have yet been reported.

“They distorted the essence”

Let us remind you that protests in Abkhazia began on November 15. On this day, the parliament of the republic planned to consider the ratification of the bill that regulates the intergovernmental investment agreement with Russia.

According to the opposition, this agreement will allegedly give Russian companies carte blanche to build expensive housing, which will ultimately lead to rising real estate prices. In addition, protesters fear that the agreement will cause serious damage to small and medium-sized businesses in Abkhazia.

The republic’s leadership rejects such claims. In an interview with RT correspondent Igor Zhdanov, Aslan Bzhania said that the investment agreement with the Russian Federation fully meets the interests of Abkhazia and the spirit of allied relations with Moscow. According to the head of state, only Russian money will help build up the country and create new jobs. He accused the opposition of “distorting the essence of this document.”

“Neither the President of Abkhazia, nor the government, nor the People’s Assembly (Abkhazian parliament. – RT) will never allow themselves to pursue an anti-people, anti-Abkhaz policy… The Russian factor in Abkhazia is a big plus,” says Bzhania.

He drew attention to the fact that Russia provides significant economic support to Abkhazia, subsidizes the state budget and helps in the field of security. The President believes that the protests pursue anti-Abkhaz and anti-Russian goals and are being influenced by external forces. At the same time, he noted that at the moment the opposition has not yet made “irreparable mistakes” and has not passed the “point of no return.”

“You can still win it all back. The point of no return has not been passed, and there is no point in reaching it,” Bzhania said, warning of possible negative consequences for the statehood and economy of Abkhazia if the opposition does not compromise.

In turn, representatives of the opposition deny the influence of external forces and the anti-Russian orientation of their actions. However, Bzhania rejects these arguments and believes that his opponents are waging a “dirty political fight.”

“The whole point is that they (the oppositionists) RT) are engaged in a dirty political struggle. They understand that elections are coming. They don’t want these elections to take place under normal conditions. They want to impose a military option on our voters and oust the current government. To earn points with this, to apply pressure and become the leaders of Abkhazia,” Bzhania noted.

The President emphasized that power in the republic can be transferred to other people “only through the expression of the will of citizens.”

Moscow also responded to the situation in the Transcaucasian republic. On November 18, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia stands for the speedy normalization of the situation in Abkhazia.

• Opposition supporters burn firewood and paper in a barrel near the Abkhaz Parliament building in Sukhumi

• RIA Novosti

• © Ilya Pitalev

“We, of course, stand for the speedy normalization of the situation in the republic and would like this situation to remain in an absolutely constitutional framework. Bilateral relations between Russia and Abkhazia are a very important priority of our foreign policy,” Peskov emphasized.

At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Bzhania to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in Moscow. The heads of several Russian regions expressed political support for the president of the republic.

“The coup d’état is unacceptable”

In a conversation with RT, Nikolai Silaev, director of the Laboratory for Analysis of International Processes at the MGIMO Institute of International Studies, explained that the intergovernmental agreement simplifies the work of Russian business in the republic, making it more predictable. However, as expected, the innovations raised concerns among part of the Abkhaz society, he noted.

“There is huge unemployment in Abkhazia. The republic needs to be developed, and without investment in infrastructure and real estate this is impossible. Russia supports Abkhazia’s budget. With these funds, the authorities of this country can pay teachers, doctors and other public sector employees. Now Russia is ready to invest in Abkhazia, and this will certainly spur the economic development of the republic,” Silaev explained.

According to him, Moscow respects the sovereignty of Abkhazia, its order and does not encroach on them.

“Russia does not interfere in the situation in Abkhazia. Is this respect for sovereignty? The answer is obvious. Abkhazia has a popularly elected president, parliament, and government. It is important that the opposition also shows respect for legally operating state institutions,” Silaev noted.

In a conversation with RT, Doctor of Political Sciences, Head of the Department of International Security and Foreign Policy of Russia at RANEPA, Alexander Mikhailenko, also emphasized that the arrival of “big Russian capital” does not threaten the independence and traditions of Abkhazia.

“With Russian investments, technology will come to Abkhazia, houses destroyed during the war with Georgia will be restored, and new jobs will appear. This cannot be done without Russian money. Yes, changes cannot be avoided, but they will be positive and will serve as an incentive to improve the economic situation in Abkhazia. Russia has always treated the Abkhaz people with warmth and provides them with extensive support. Therefore, it is difficult to see real reasons for concern in connection with the ratification of the investment agreement,” argues Mikhailenko.

He is confident that strengthening ties with Russia will bring the economy and tourism cluster of Abkhazia to a new level, and this fully meets the interests of the people of the republic. However, the forceful option for the development of political events in the Transcaucasian republic is unacceptable.

“The parties to the conflict in Abkhazia must calmly sit down at the negotiating table and discuss all controversial issues. This is the only way to achieve a peaceful resolution of disagreements,” Mikhailenko concluded.