Masked Attackers Target Journalist and Civil Activist in Sukhum

SUKHUM / AQW'A ― On the evening of 15 September, a shocking crime took place in Sukhum when a group of unidentified masked individuals attacked journalist David Gobechia and civil activist Lia Agrba. The assailants used pepper spray to blind the young people, employed physical force, and stole their personal belongings.

David Gobechia is one of the administrators of the information and analytical Telegram channel Abkhazian Portal. Lia Agrba is an active participant in several socially significant initiatives and is also involved in the youth movement ҲараҲПицунда (KharaKhPitsunda - Our Pitsunda).

The incident has sparked immediate public outrage, with various organisations, public figures, journalists, and other members of civil society strongly condemning the attack. In a joint statement, several political parties and socio-political organisations described the attack as “an attempt to thwart, at any cost, the fight for justice, democracy, and the defence of our nation’s interests.”

The Union of Veterans and Youth of Apsny also released a statement, noting that “the young people suffered solely because of their civil stance.” Representatives of public organisations have decried the repressive and violent measures taken against members of civil society and have called on law enforcement and human rights bodies to conduct an impartial investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The English narration of Nizfa Arshba’s statement regarding this attack.

Journalist Nizfa Arshba commented on the attack, saying, "I don’t know who orchestrated this entire operation, but I am certain that the organisers did not achieve their main objective. Neither David, nor Lia, and certainly not the rest of us who openly defend the interests of our homeland, will be intimidated."

According to David Gobechia, he had been under surveillance for several days leading up to the attack, raising concerns about the premeditated nature of the incident.

It is worth noting that in December 2023, Lia Agrba, a member of the ҲараҲПицунда (Our Pitsunda) youth movement, was also at the centre of controversy. On 22nd December, Zaala Khvartskia, Deputy Chairman of the Abkhazian State Security Service (SGB), publicly accused members of ҲараҲПицунда and other civil society organisations of attempting to destabilise the nation’s political climate. These allegations were made in the context of civil opposition to a bill concerning the transfer of a state datcha in Pitsunda to Russia, which sparked significant political tension in Abkhazia at the time. In response to these accusations, the ҲараҲПицунда youth movement demanded a formal apology from the Abkhazian State Security Service.