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Abkhazia intends to develop and strengthen relations with Russia after the change of power, the republic's Foreign Ministry told Izvestia. On November 19, its parliament accepted the resignation of Aslan Bzhania from the post of the country's president. The reason for this was protests, Bzhania regards what happened as an attempted coup d'état, he said about serious reputational damage for Abkhazia. Nevertheless, the unrest in the republic was not anti-Russian in nature. What the opposition wanted and when early presidential elections may be held in the country - in the material of "Izvestia".

Abkhazia's relations with Russia

On November 19, the parliament of Abkhazia accepted the resignation of the republic's leader Aslan Bzhania. The head of the country decided to leave after negotiations between the authorities and the opposition, which began in the evening of November 18 and lasted more than eight hours. 28 deputies out of 31 voted in favor of the resolution on the resignation of the president. Now Vice-President Badra Gunba will perform the duties of the head of the country. It is worth noting that Abkhazia is considered a presidential republic.

заседание

Meeting of the session of the People's Assembly (Parliament) of the Republic of Abkhazia

Photo: RIA Novosti/Ilya Pitalev

In addition to Bzhania, Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab and head of the state security service Dmitry Dbar also resigned. The new head of the government is expected to be a candidate proposed by the opposition.

After the change of power, the republic intends to further develop relations with Russia, the Abkhazian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia.

- The Russian Federation is a strategic ally of the Republic of Abkhazia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia, as always, will continue to work within its competence in order to develop and strengthen the whole complex of interstate Abkhaz-Russian allied relations, - the Foreign Ministry said.

In accordance with the Constitution of Abkhazia in case of resignation of the president early elections are held within three months. Previously, the vote was to be held between the end of January and the end of March. By the way, Aslan Bzhania said that despite his resignation, he will again take part in the next elections. "Opposition supporters constantly refer to the opinion of the people, saying that they have the support of our citizens. The true yardstick in such a matter is elections. Elections will show who the multinational people of Abkhazia want as president," he said.

Выборы
Photo: RIA Novosti/Thomas Tchaitsuk

At the same time, in a conversation with Izvestia he characterized what happened in the republic as an attempt of a coup d'état.

- The action was planned, it was organized by a certain part of the opposition, that is why this story happened. Of course, I will analyze it in order to understand the underlying causes of this phenomenon. If it had been possible to bring everything to the end, the consequences would have been even worse. Now, I am sure that Abkhazia has suffered very serious reputational damage, a very large number of people are frightened," he said.

The opposition is also in favor of strengthening relations with Russia, Arsou Huapshykhu, a member of the initiative group KharaKhPitsunda, told Izvestia. This movement took part in the protests. Moscow remains a strategic ally of Sukhum, so relations between the parties will only develop even with the change of power, he specified.

- The opposition intends to maintain partnership relations with Russia. Abkhazia's course towards Russia does not change. The opposition has repeatedly stated that the protest is not directed against Russia. There are many agreements between Abkhazia and Russia. There are no changes, everyone understands that the course towards Russia is a conscious choice that guarantees our rights and our security," Arsou Huapshykhu told Izvestia.

Контейнеры
Photo: Izvestia/Mitriy Korotayev

The opposition has previously said that the protests in the republic are not anti-Russian in nature. "Any statements on this topic, no matter who they come from, are 100% lies and provocation. The course of alliance and strategic partnership with Russia remains inviolable, as well as brotherly relations and mutual support between our peoples," leader of the organization "Abkhazian People's Movement" Adgur Ardzinba wrote in his Telegram channel.

After the start of protests in the republic, Russia advocated the rapid normalization of the situation in Abkhazia, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 18.

- Bilateral relations are a very important priority of our foreign policy. And we, of course, are in favor of the earliest normalization of the situation in the republic and would like this situation to remain in an absolutely constitutional way," he said.

Moscow is the main partner of Sukhum, in 2023 it accounted for 35 billion rubles, or 72%, of the total volume of foreign trade of Abkhazia. In addition, the volume of trade turnover between the two countries increased by 16%.

What were the protests in Abkhazia about

Initially, protests in the republic began on the night of November 12. The unrest was associated with the detention of several opposition politicians. They were against the agreement allowing Russian companies to implement investment projects in Abkhazia. However, after that the protests subsided for a few days.

Абхазия протесты
Photo: RIA Novosti

On November 15, the Abkhazian parliament was to consider ratification of the agreement with Russia. It was signed on October 30th by Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov and Abkhazian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Kristina Ozgan. According to the document, Russian companies will be able to implement investment projects on the territory of the republic. It is investments that play a key role in stabilizing the economic situation of the country, the Abkhazian minister stressed earlier. However, the opposition fears that Russian companies may oust local entrepreneurs from the Abkhazian market. Bzhania told Izvestia that the program was aimed at increasing the number of jobs in the country. According to him, many people among the protesters were simply misled.

At the same time, on November 15, deputies failed to approve the agenda and the session was canceled. On the same day, clashes between opposition supporters and security forces began in Sukhum, during which several people were injured. Protesters rammed a truck into the gates outside the parliament and presidential administration buildings. The protesters demanded that the ratification of the investment agreement with Russia be rejected and that the head of state resign.

Aslan Bzhania left after the protests for his native village of Tamysh, where he said he was ready to step down as president and call early elections if the protesters vacated the government buildings. However, opposition leaders initially rejected his proposal.

Протесты
Photo: RIA Novosti

The country's Foreign Ministry earlier noted that the protests were negatively affecting relations with Russia's strategic ally and causing serious damage to the image of the state, which, in fact, is already struggling for recognition in the international arena.

Vadim Mukhanov, head of the Caucasus sector at the IMEMO RAS, tells Izvestia that the opposition was initially determined to hold elections in the spring after a hard winter so that the ruling force would have fewer chances to retain power.

- However, the opposition has now strengthened its chances for elections, even early ones, in the course of the protests," he added.

Recall that due to dilapidation of the energy infrastructure in the fall-winter period in Abkhazia there is a shortage of electricity, because of which the country introduces fan shutdowns. Since November 1, four-hour shutdowns have been in effect in Abkhazia due to critically low water level in the dam of Ingur hydroelectric power station. Part of the electricity is supplied to the republic from Russia.

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