Parliament Ratifies Judicial Agreement with Russia Amid Opposition Concerns
During the session, 27 deputies voted in favour of the ratification, while two abstained.
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― The Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia has ratified the Abkhazian-Russian agreement titled "On the Recognition and Enforcement of Judicial and Arbitral Decisions in Economic Cases". The draft law was introduced by Batal Aiba, the parliamentary secretary of Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania.
During the parliamentary session, 27 deputies voted in favour of the ratification, while two abstained. The agreement includes provisions that allow exceptions to the mandatory enforcement of court decisions from the partner country. Notably, enforcement can be denied if a local court determines that it would harm the country's sovereignty, threaten its security, or conflict with public order.
"Ratification will contribute to the development of interstate relations, ensuring the rights and legitimate interests of participants in business and other economic activities," said Batal Aiba. Anri Bartsyts, the head of the Abkhazian Ministry of Justice, added, "Ratification of the agreement will open new opportunities for our national entrepreneurs and allow us to support them."
However, the process has not been without controversy. Earlier, accredited journalists from independent media outlets were denied entry to the parliamentary session. On 23 September, opposition parties called on the Parliament to postpone the ratification. They accused President Bzhania of exerting unprecedented pressure on the legislative body, alleging that he is employing questionable political tactics, including external influence and attempts at blackmail, to push through the agreement.