Nov 19, 2024
The leader of a Russian-backed breakaway region in Georgia has resigned following weeks of protests and tensions in the self-declared republic in Moscow’s backyard.
Aslan Bzhania submitted his resignation as leader of Abkhazia on Tuesday following negotiations with the opposition in the region. There has been public anger at a deal that would allow Russian companies to invest in the region, but which opponents said would increase property prices and Russian influence.
The political turbulence could pose a challenge for Russian president Vladimir Putin as the full-scale war he started against Ukraine turns 1,000 days old on Tuesday. Newsweek has emailed the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.
In 2008, Moscow recognized the independence of Abkhazia, along with neighboring South Ossetia following a brief war between Russia and Georgia. Abkhazia is considered by most of the international community as part of Georgia, but it has a strong Russian military presence and its economy is propped up by Moscow.
Bzhania fled after demonstrators stormed government buildings in the capital Sukhumi on 15 November. He has said he would retract his resignation if the protesters do not comply with demands such as leaving the buildings they are occupying. He has also said he intends to stand in the upcoming presidential election.
Bzhania said in a statement on Telegram that he was standing down “to maintain stability and constitutional order in the country.” Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab said he would also leave office and Vice President Badra Gunba will become acting president, while former parliamentary speaker Valery Bganba will be interim prime minister.
There have been weeks of growing tensions and rallies in which protesters occupied buildings and bridges. On Monday, they tried to seize the Abkhaz State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (AGTRK).
In an assessment provided to Newsweek last week, the International Crisis Group said that the protests do not mean that Abkhazia is turning against Moscow but rather the problem was Bzhania.
“The protesters say they gathered to defend Abkhazia’s national interests from a de facto president who was looking to personally gain control over much of the region’s resources,” the Crisis Group said in a statement.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has said it hopes there can be a peaceful resolution to the tensions, although the opposition are worried that the de facto Abkhazian administration might ask for Moscow to intervene. “Further unrest would bring with it a real risk of more violence and instability,” the Crisis Group added.
https://www.newsweek.com/georgia-abkhazia-putin-russia-resigned-1988057
In its current condition, mafia land cannot do much about what’s happening in the Caucasus. This should be a hint to other people that are mafia land’s slaves. I don’t expect a widespread struggle for freedom in mafia land, but it would be great to see that.
There are almost zero ethnic Georgians left in Abkhazia. This is because of an unreported genocide in the early 90’s under “benign” Yeltsin rule.
Those that were not murdered fled to non-putinaZi occupied areas. Outside the city of Gori is a large settlement built for them by Saakashvili.
Many of them had beautiful homes, which were thieved by ruZZian scum.
That genocide took place while Clinton was wooing Yeltsin.
Later, while Yeltsin was signing Budapest, he was simultaneously committing genocide in Chechnya.
There currently is a danger of Abkhazia being swamped with filthy orcs.
We haven’t had the best presidents during the past decades, that’s for damned sure.