Abkhazia parliament stormed over Russian investment deal

Protesters clashed with police outside Abkhazia's parliament, as lawmakers considered an investment deal with Russia. Police in the breakaway Georgian region fired tear gas in response.

Protesters stormed the parliament of Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region on Friday. Demonstrators were seeking to halt a real estate investment project between the region and Russia.

Along with the Georgian region of South Ossetia, Abkhazia declared itself independent in a war against Georgia in 2008, in
which Russia backed the separatist forces. Abkhazia is still recognized as part of Georgia by most of the world.

Why did protesters storm the Abkhazian parliament?

Protesters rammed through the gates of the parliament complex with a truck, while hurling eggs and plastic bottles at the police, who responded with tear gas, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

At issue is a relatively underdeveloped part of the region, which many in Abkhazia fear will be bought up by Russian oligarchs as part of the investment agreement, driving up costs and displacing the local population. 

As a result of the storming of the legislature, the presidential administration said in a statement that officials were preparing to withdraw the investment agreement.

Russia said it was paying close attention to the "crisis situation" in Abkhazia and urged its citizens to leave the area and avoid travel there altogether.

Protesters demand leader's resignation

Demonstrators are now taking aim at the region's leader. Protesters also broke into the presidential administration offices, which are located in the same complex as the parliament.

At least nine people were taken to hospital as a result of clashes there. 

Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania is a former officer of the Soviet KGB secret service and the opposition has accused him of selling out to Russia. 

Abkhazia's opposition said in a statement that the protests were not meant to harm Russian-Abkhazian relations, but that they were mainly targeted at Bzhania, who they said "has been trying to use these relations for his own selfish interests, manipulating them for the sake of strengthening his regime."

Opposition leader, Eshsou Kakalia, told Reuters the protesters would continue to occupy the government complex until Bzhania agrees to resign.

jcg/ab (Reuters, AFP)