SUKHUM, November 15. /TASS/. Several hundred people are taking part in a protest rally in front of the Abkhazian parliament against the planned ratification of an agreement with Moscow which would allow Russian companies to implement investment projects in the country, a TASS correspondent reports.
Opposition members have made several attempts to break into the parliament building and managed to enter the square in front of parliament.
TASS has gathered the main information about the situation in Abkhazia.
Parliament cancels session on agreement’s ratification
- On Friday, Abkhazia’s parliament was expected to consider the ratification of the agreement with Moscow enabling Russian companies to carry out investment projects in the country.
- The opposition announced plans to carry out a protest rally in front of the parliament building and urged Abkhazian residents to take an active part in it, saying that the accord threatened the country's economic sovereignty.
- Law enforcement agencies were put on high alert.
- Abkhazian parliament members canceled the session on the agreement's ratification after failing to approve an agenda.
- Thirteen lawmakers voted to approve the meeting’s agenda, while four voted against it and two abstained.
- Only 21 of 35 lawmakers took part in the meeting due to the pressure that they are facing over the issue, Parliament Speaker Lasha Ashuba said.
- Opposition members demanded that parliament reconvene to reject the ratification issue altogether.
Protest rally
- Several hundred people are participating in a protest really in front of the Abkhazian parliament building, a TASS correspondent reports.
- Protesters have made attempts to breach the parliament grounds, ramming the metal fence with a car.
- They also threw sticks and stones at law enforcement officers.
- Police officers managed to hold back the opposition members.
- The Abkhazian Security Council described the situation as tense.
- Smoke bombs were used at the protest rally near Abkhazia’s parliament.
- Gunshot-like sounds were heard at the rally, and then, opposition members broke into the square in front of the parliament building.
- Opposition members are still trying to enter the building.
- Protesters started heading towards the Abkhazian presidential administration building.
Investment agreement
- On October 30, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov and Abkhazian Economy Minister Kristina Ozgan signed an agreement making it possible for Russian companies to implement investment projects in Abkhazia.
- Adgur Ardzinba, an opposition leader and chairman of the Abkhazian People’s Movement, stated that the country’s 2014 law on investment activities provided guarantees, special conditions and benefits for investors, while the new agreement was a covert form of legalizing apartment sales.
- On November 5, opposition public organizations set up a crisis center in Sukhum to counter the ratification of the agreement, saying that it would harm Abkhazia’s economic sovereignty.