Aslan Bzhaniya

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Abkhazia

Explainer | How a controversial investments agreement led to the downfall of the Abkhazian president

by OC Media

•9 min read

In the early hours of Tuesday, Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhaniya announced his resignation after days of protests centred around a controversial agreement on Russian investments. Bzhaniya still intends to run in the upcoming presidential elections, which are expected to take place in February. Over the course of less than two weeks, discontent over the proposed legislation grew and morphed into a protest movement that brought down the Abkhazian government. On 30 October, an agreement on

Abkhazia

Abkhazian President Bzhaniya resigns after mass protests

by Nate Ostiller

•2 min read

Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhaniya has announced that he was resigning following intense protests. Vice President Badra Gunba will serve as Abkhazia’s acting president until the next elections in 2025. Bzhaniya’s official press service shared a signed document saying that he had agreed to resign ‘in order to maintain the stability and constitutional order in the country’. Later on Tuesday, there were unconfirmed reports that he had left Abkhazia. A video surfaced shortly after, in which Bzh

Abkhazia

Political deadlock in Abkhazia as President Bzhaniya clings to power

by Nate Ostiller

•3 min read

Following the dramatic events of last week, which culminated with protesters storming the Abkhazian parliament building and demanding the resignation of President Aslan Bzhaniya, the political situation remains at a standstill. Bzhaniya suggested he was open to vacating his position over the weekend if the protesters vacated the parliament, but added that he would nonetheless run for president again in the presidential election scheduled for the spring of 2025. On Sunday, protesters dem

President Aslan Bzhaniya's office nameplate in the trash after protesters stormed the parliament. Image via social media.

Abkhazia

Abkhazia descends into chaos as President Bzhaniya refuses demands to resign

by Nate Ostiller

•3 min read

Abkhazia’s political crisis continues as both the opposition and government appear to have irreconcilable differences. While authorities have said they are ready to consider abandoning the controversial investments legislation that sparked the recent protests, leading opposition figures said they won’t be satisfied until President Aslan Bzhaniya steps down. On Friday, protesters gathered in front of Abkhazia’s parliament building in Sukhumi (Sukhum) to demonstrate against a scheduled vote

Abkhazia

Protesters storm Abkhazia’s parliament as anger over controversial investment law boils over

by Nate Ostiller

•3 min read

Violent protests broke out in front of Abkhazia’s parliament building on Friday despite a vote on a controversial piece of legislation being postponed. Following clashes with security forces, protesters stormed the building, breaking the bars on its windows and flooding the halls. As of Friday afternoon, at least two people were reportedly injured during the protests. As the legislation, an investment agreement that would significantly ease restrictions on the ability of foreigners,

Abkhazia

Protests across Abkhazia after opposition leaders arrested

by OC Media

•5 min read

Protesters have gathered across Abkhazia, blocking bridges and roads, and reportedly ramming the gate of the State Security Service building with a car following the arrests of several opposition leaders. On Tuesday, Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhaniya urged residents to ‘remain calm’ and summoned a meeting of the Security Council. Telegram channels reported on the sudden detainment of five opposition leaders on Monday evening following an argument they had with MP Almas Akaba. The i

A crowd in Ochamchira protesting against the bill's passing in its first committee hearing on 19 July. Still from video, OC Media

Abkhazia

Abkhazian President ‘chastises’ officials for failing to contain protests

by OC Media

•1 min read

An anonymous opposition figure has claimed that Abkhazia’s President Aslan Bzhaniya reprimanded local officials for failing to contain recent protests against the aborted apartments law, and instructed them to provoke opposition figures. Sit Maan, an anonymous blogger who frequently posts reports about the government in Abkhazia on Pravda Abkhazia, a public Facebook group, claimed that Bzhaniya met with law enforcement officers and local officials on Friday evening. Bzhaniya reportedly repr