Moscow, November 19, 2024 – The Europe Today: In a significant political shift, President Aslan Bzhania of Abkhazia has submitted his resignation following extensive anti-government protests that escalated last week. The move comes after eight hours of negotiations with opposition leaders on Monday, aimed at ending the unrest. Bzhania urged protesters to honor their agreement by vacating the government buildings they have occupied in Sukhumi.
The resignation, confirmed in a document signed by Bzhania and circulated by his office early Tuesday, emphasized his decision was made “to preserve stability and constitutional order in the country,” as stipulated under Article 65 of the Abkhazian Constitution. Parliament is expected to review his resignation later in the day. However, Bzhania has warned that if the protesters refuse to leave the government complex, he will retract his resignation.
Under the terms agreed with the opposition, Prime Minister Aleksander Ankvab will also step down, with former Prime Minister Valeri Bganba poised to take over the role. Vice-President Badra Gunba will serve as the acting leader until new elections are held.
The unrest was sparked last week when Abkhazia’s parliament was discussing a potential agreement with Moscow, enabling Russian companies to engage in investment projects within the region. Opposition leaders expressed concerns, alleging the deal favored Russian interests disproportionately. Tensions boiled over on Friday when demonstrators stormed government buildings, demanding Bzhania’s resignation and rejecting proposals for early elections.
Initially refusing to step down, Bzhania described the protests as an “attempted coup,” accusing his opponents of resorting to incendiary rhetoric against Russia and undermining the electoral process. In an interview with RT on Sunday, Bzhania stated, “They want to impose a forceful option on our voters. Is this an attempt at a coup? It is an attempt. It is not over yet.”
The opposition maintains that its protest aims to safeguard Abkhazia’s national interests and resources, not to sever ties with Russia. They have accused Bzhania of leveraging Moscow’s support for personal gain.
Abkhazia, a South Caucasus republic with a population of around 244,000, broke away from Georgia following a conflict in the early 1990s. While Russia and a few other countries recognized it as an independent state in 2008, Georgia continues to assert sovereignty over the territory.
