Accredited Journalists Barred from Abkhazian Parliament Session
Security officials prevent journalists from covering parliamentary proceedings.
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― Accredited journalists representing independent media outlets were denied entry to a crucial session of the Abkhazian Parliament, where deputies were set to consider the ratification of a contentious agreement with Russia on the mutual recognition and enforcement of judicial and arbitral decisions in economic cases.
According to Nizfa Arshba, editor-in-chief of the "Aiashara" news agency, officers from the State Security Service (SSS) informed journalists that they could not permit entry "without coordination". Arshba reported that the Parliamentary Press Service expressed helplessness, stating they had no authority to resolve the issue. Deputies reportedly remained unresponsive, indicating their inability to intervene. "There is a directive from the Presidential Administration and the SSS prohibiting journalists from attending the parliamentary session," she wrote.
Independent media outlets criticised the exclusion of journalists, with "Nuzhnaya Gazeta" commenting, "When the president's contentious initiatives are being pushed through in parliament, journalists are not permitted to attend the session." The "Abkhazian Portal" added, "A violation is occurring before your eyes; security personnel are obstructing journalists from performing their professional duties!"
The session aimed to address the ratification of the Russian-Abkhazian agreement titled "On the Recognition and Enforcement of Judicial and Arbitral Decisions in Economic Cases". Moscow has suspended funding to the Abkhazian budget since 1 September, specifically demanding the approval of this agreement.
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This development follows recent tensions between President Aslan Bzhania and opposition parties. On Monday, 23 September, opposition parties called on the Parliament to postpone the ratification of the agreement, accusing President Bzhania of exerting unprecedented pressure on the legislative body. They allege that the president is employing questionable political tactics, including external influence and attempts at blackmail, to push through the agreement.
In their joint statement, the opposition parties asserted that initiatives to collect signatures in state-funded institutions "failed spectacularly", indicating that President Bzhania's "anti-popular agenda has collapsed". They urged the Parliament to act as "the only legitimate authority" and "guarantor of political stability", attributing its increased public trust to the deputies' firm stance on previous contentious issues.
President Bzhania defended the agreement in a recent interview with Abkhazian Television, stating: "This agreement poses no risk to our country. It opens up opportunities for honest businesspeople to expand their economic activities and generally benefit our state. Those who do not want to accept this are hoping they can get a loan from a bank and then not repay it. But such people are an absolute minority. By misunderstanding the nature of this agreement and not accepting it, we are shielding potential fraudsters and closing opportunities for dozens who want to conduct honest business."
Media representatives and civil society organisations are calling for immediate access to parliamentary proceedings, emphasising the importance of independent reporting on matters of significant public interest.