The opposition claims that the agreement that favors Russian investments responds to pressure from Moscow
MADRID, 15 (EUROPA PRESS)
A group of protesters broke into the Parliament of the self-proclaimed republic of Abkhazia, de facto independent of Georgia with the support of Moscow, this Friday to stop the ratification of a bill that seeks to boost Russian investments.
The protesters, summoned by the opposition, have engaged in some clashes with the Police in front of the Assembly headquarters to demand the withdrawal of the measure, which has led the President of Parliament, Lasha Ashuba, to suspend the plenary session.
Once inside the building, the protesters have refused to leave the Parliament headquarters until the president of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, presents his resignation, according to several media outlets, which suggest that the protesters have also assaulted the Government headquarters. .
“We are all staying here, no one is leaving, we are waiting for the decision on President Bzhania’s resignation,” opposition leader Levan Mikaa declared to his followers, as reported by the newspaper ‘Nuzhnaya Gazeta’.
Previously, several people had crashed a van into one of the fences that cover the perimeter of Parliament and entered the front yard, prompting security guards to use tear gas to control the crowd.
CREATION OF AN OPPOSITORY COUNCIL
The opposition has expressed its rejection of the agreement, which provides for the granting of several investment projects to Russian companies in the territory a year after the authorities agreed to an agreement with the Russian Government for the establishment of an Army military base in Ochamchira, in the Black Sea, which has led critical voices to warn of an increase in Russian influence in the area.
According to the opposition, the controversial legislation only responds to pressure from Moscow, which previously suspended some of its subsidies to the region. Thus, President Bzhania’s detractors have announced the creation of a coordination council to resolve the internal crisis.
The increase in tension has led the president of Abkhazia to report that he is preparing the necessary documents to achieve the withdrawal of the agreement in question following the relevant legislative channels and with the aim of achieving stability.
For its part, the Russian Government has expressed its “concern” about the latest developments and has expressed its hope that the parties will be able to resolve their disputes through peaceful and political means.
Georgia and Russia had a brief war over South Ossetia and the region of Abkhazia in 2008. After the conflict ended, Moscow, whose forces prevailed, recognized both regions as independent countries, although the vast majority of countries have not done so. fact and the Georgian Government continues to consider them autonomous regions under its own sovereignty.
Currently, Russian and Abkhazian military personnel guarantee security in the region, which has members of the Russian Federal Security Service to guard the border areas.
The president of Georgia, Salomé Zurabishvili, has denounced over the last year a series of attempts by Russia to annex Georgian territories located in the separatist region.