Abkhazia erupts in protests over Russia deal

On the night of Nov. 11, protesters in Abkhazia, a breakaway region from Georgia, gathered in the capital city of Sukhumi in opposition to an investment agreement with Russia, demanding the release of detained activists who voiced dissent.

Crowds assembled outside the State Security Service (SSS) building and blocked a city bridge. According to local Telegram channels, including NewsGeorgia, demonstrators broke through the SSS building gates, while another channel, Respubliсa, reported that the protest had shifted to Freedom Square by midnight.

Respublica added that people from across Abkhazia continued to join the protests and, several hours in, there were still no updates on the status of the detainees.

Another local Telegram channel, Patriots of Abkhazia (t.me/s/patriotabh), claims that police used force against the protesters. In response, Abkhazian citizens blocked roads and bridges, though they cleared the way for a passing ambulance.

«It is obvious that the government has resorted to open provocation, using forceful methods to suppress public resistance and enforce decisions that go against the people’s interests. This is not just a political struggle; it is an attempt to deprive the Abkhazian people of sovereignty and rights won thirty years ago,» the channel stated.

Later, security forces moved military equipment to the residence of Aslan Bzhania, the country’s president. At 12:53 a.m., Respublika reported that police had detained five activists without providing reasons for the arrests.

«More than four hours have passed since the detention of Omar Smyr, Garry Kokaya, Almaskhan Ardzinba, Ramaz Dzhopua and Aslan Gvaramia, but there is still no official information about the reasons for their detention. Their relatives are still not allowed to visit them. Nothing is known about their condition,» the channel wrote.

At 3:09 a.m., Respublica posted a speech from Prosecutor General Adgur Agrba, who said that five people were detained for «illegal actions» and using offensive language toward a parliament member, though he did not specify who. Authorities cited a circulating video of a street fight as the reason for the arrests.

Adgur Ardzinba, former economy minister and a prominent leader in Abkhazia’s opposition, described the recent night protests as a necessary response to government actions. Ardzinba claims that the activists were detained not for personal reasons, but because of their vocal opposition to the Abkhaz-Russian investment agreement, which he believes threatens Abkhazian sovereignty.

«Our associates are being detained illegally not for personal matters, but because they are defending our national interests. No one finds any pleasure in what we are doing here; these are forced measures,» Ardzinba said, noting that President Aslan Bzhania had labeled the protesters as «extremists» in a recent speech.

Ardzinba criticized the agreement, calling it «a green light for selling out Abkhazia,» and vowed that activists would block its ratification.

The agreement, signed in October between Russia and Abkhazia, would allow Russian companies to initiate investment projects in Abkhazia. The incumbent Minister of Economy Kristina Ozgan argues that the deal is essential for stabilizing Abkhazia’s economy. For the agreement to take effect, it requires ratification by the Abkhazian parliament.

Many Abkhazian opposition activists and citizens strongly resist the investment deal with Russia. This resistance has led to a planned protest in Abkhazia on Nov. 15, the day parliament is scheduled to review the agreement for possible ratification.

The Republic of Abkhazia is recognized as an independent state by only five countries: Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Syria. Most other nations, including Kazakhstan, regard Abkhazia as part of Georgia. The Georgian government refers to Abkhazia as a «Russian-occupied region.»

In 2022, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev clarified Kazakhstan’s stance on unrecognized territories. Responding to a question from Russian journalist Margarita Simonyan, Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan does not recognize several disputed regions as independent, listing «Taiwan, Kosovo, South Ossetia or Abkhazia» alongside the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic. This comment sparked a wave of disapproval in Abkhazia’s media.

The situation in Abkhazia resonates with recent mass protests in Georgia, where President Salome Zourabichvili led demonstrations challenging the results of a parliamentary election. The election results, as reported by Georgia’s central election commission, favored a «pro-Russian» party.