Opposition in Abkhazia Blocks Roads
In the breakaway region of Abkhazia, supporters of the opposition have blocked two key bridges. The Gumista Bridge, which is near the capital city Sukhumi, has been closed since November 12. This bridge connects Sukhumi to other parts of the country.
The Kodori Bridge was also temporarily blocked but then reopened. There were protests in Abkhazia after several opposition leaders were arrested by the State Security Service. These leaders include Omar Smir and Gari Kokaia, as well as Almaskhan Adzinba and Ramaz Jopua.
The de facto government of Abkhazia said that blocking central highways is a crime. They also warned that those responsible would face punishment. Aslan Bzhania, the self-declared president of Abkhazia, held an emergency meeting with security leaders to discuss their response to these events.
Background
Before the arrests and bridge blocks, opposition supporters in Abkhazia had gathered for a rally. The main issue at hand was an agreement between Russia and Abkhazia that would allow Russian companies to invest in the region while giving local businesses no benefits.
The Russian government signed this document with Kristina Ozgan, the deputy prime minister of Abkhazia. They claim it will bring new investments for infrastructure such as water supply, gas, heat, and transport. This would be a big change for Abkhazia’s economy and agriculture.
Opinion
Kristina Ozgan said that these Russian investments are crucial in stabilizing the economic situation in Abkhazia. In recent years, there has been an increase of over 2.5 times in capital investments. The government hopes to continue this positive trend by bringing in more private money instead of relying solely on state funds.
The agreement needs to be ratified by the parliament of Abkhazia before it can go into effect.