Protesters Take By Storm Building Of Abkhaz ‘Parliament’

The authorities promised to withdraw the scandalous draft law on the agreement with Russia.

In the capital of Abkhazia, Sukhumi, protests against the ratification of the investment agreement with Russia, which the republic's “parliament” was going to consider today, November 15, have resumed. Several thousand protesters, led by opposition leader Adgur Ardzinba, demanded that the document be rejected.

According to Sputnik Abkhazia, 21 “deputies” out of 35 came to the meeting of the People's Assembly. The speaker of the “parliament” Lashi Ashuba complained of “pressure”, and proposed postponing the consideration of the issue until next week.

The protesters were not satisfied with this — they stormed the “parliament”. Clashes with law enforcement officers began, in which people threw eggs, stones and bottles. In turn, the security forces, according to the local publication “Respublika”, sprayed gas and threw smoke bombs at the protesters. Sounds similar to gunshots were heard.

Using a truck, the protesters broke the fence surrounding the “parliament” building, surrounded the People's Assembly in a human ring and refused to disperse, Interfax reports. The head of the State Security Service Dmitry Dbar and the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Robert Kiut came out to them. They promised to convey the demands of the crowd to “president” Aslan Bzhania.

Then the protesters in Abkhazia broke the bars on the windows of the republic's “parliament” building and are getting inside, Respublika publishes a video from the scene.

The protesters also broke down the doors of the building and are breaking through them. Before this, Respublika wrote about the use of smoke bombs by security forces. At the same time, the channel reports that the security forces did not prevent citizens from getting inside the building. Those who got inside the building are calling for “nothing to be broken.”

Meanwhile, the protesters demanded that a session be held to vote against the project.

At the same time, the administration of the “president” of the republic reported that they were preparing a document on the withdrawal from the “parliament” of the bill on ratification of the agreement with Russia to stabilize the situation. However, the protesters began to demand the resignation of Bzhania, whom they call a “deserter”. People also began to enter the “parliament” building through the windows, and those who gathered at the entrance broke down the door.

According to the Ministry of Health of the republic, eight people were injured during the clashes near the “parliament” and were taken to the hospital.

Protests have been continuing in Abkhazia for the past few days. The local opposition is dissatisfied with the investment agreement with Russia. It provides support measures for Russian investors. In particular, it exempts them for eight years from customs duties on the import of construction materials and equipment, as well as from paying taxes on the property of the organization and on profits. The value added tax rate for them is set at 5%, which is two times less than the standard in Abkhazia.

Also, under the agreement, Russian investors are provided with a quota for foreign workers, which they can distribute independently. In addition, investors included in a special register will receive preferential rights to connect to utility networks and communications, and will also be able to take out bank loans using land provided by the Abkhaz authorities as collateral.

The opposition believes that Abkhazia will not gain anything from this agreement and the republic should abandon it. “First of all, this agreement is designed to exempt foreign oligarchs from taxes for up to 25 years. The benefits provided for by the agreement come into effect with investments of 2 billion rubles. Why do we need such investment projects that will not bring a penny to the budget for a quarter of a century?!” said the leader of the Abkhaz People's Movement, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of the republic Adgur Ardzinba.

In mid-November, protesters blocked the main highway from Abkhazia to the Russian border, demanding the release of six arrested demonstrators. Against this background, the “president” of the republic Bzhania called on citizens “to remain calm and not succumb to provocations”.

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