Public Outcry Grows in Abkhazia with Opposition Detentions

SUKHUM / AQW'A — Abkhazia faces a growing wave of protests and civil unrest following the detention of prominent opposition figures, sparking a political crisis that has thrown the nation into turmoil. Opposition supporters, incensed by what they view as an authoritarian clampdown by President Aslan Bzhania, have blocked critical bridges, including the Gumista and Kodor crossings, in a powerful display of defiance against the government’s increasingly aggressive tactics.

The arrests of opposition figures Omar Smyr, Garry Kokaya, Almaskhan Ardzinba, Ramaz Dzhopua, and Aslan Gvaramia have galvanized public anger. Captured on video, the detentions showed armed officers dragging some of the detainees forcefully, a scene that resonated with citizens and fuelled accusations of state repression. Crowds soon gathered at the State Security Service headquarters in Sukhum, demanding immediate release of the detainees, with protesters subsequently blocking strategic routes into the city.

Aslan Bzhania, addressing the nation, portrayed the detentions as essential to maintaining order, citing "unlawful actions" by the opposition leaders and calling for "calm and restraint" among citizens. "The Republic of Abkhazia is equipped with the necessary resources to ensure security and uphold the rule of law," he stated, dismissing claims of heavy-handedness as "exaggerations intended to provoke unrest." However, his reassurances appear to have done little to stem the outcry.

The detentions have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Opposition leader Adgur Ardzinba rebuked the administration’s approach, stating, “Our colleagues, patriots, and respected figures are being treated like criminals for merely opposing government policies. This is not governance; it is an attempt to instill fear.” Such sentiments are echoed by Hero of Abkhazia Vianor Ashba, who accused the government of "selling the land our forefathers defended."

"The entire academic and creative community opposed the adoption of these laws. Go to the villages and ask, the people are against it. Zurab Achba once said that if a self-serving and power-hungry person comes to power, and then operates within the law solely for their own interests, our Constitution is structured in such a way that it would be impossible to oppose them legally. Today, we have exactly such a person, and as a society, we are powerless to change this. What we are witnessing now is the result of that helplessness, because we cannot, and will not, accept what is happening. With a president like this, our darkest days are still ahead."

— Vitaly Gabnia, Former Vice President of Abkhazia (2014–2018)

At the heart of the protest is a proposed investment agreement with Russia, set for parliamentary review on 15 November. Opposition leaders argue that the agreement threatens Abkhazia’s sovereignty, further asserting that the recent arrests are a means to silence critics of the pact. Former Vice President Vitaly Gabnia voiced a dire warning: “With a president like this, our darkest days are still ahead.”

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Notable commentator Dmitry Mushba voiced a damning critique, stating, “The responsibility lies primarily with the president and his associates.” He elaborated: “Power blinds; it can drive a person to madness. And when a person harbours resentment while wielding absolute power, it inevitably leads to tragedy. Today, we haven’t reached that point, but the primary responsibility for the situation lies with the president and his associates, who are pushing fraudulent schemes through parliament, as well as with the reckless security forces breaking the law.”

Mushba’s commentary reflects a growing frustration with an administration that many view as out of touch. “There is an unsettling sense that those in charge spend too much time away from Abkhazia and have completely lost touch with the psyche of their own people. The Abkhaz can be deceived, and they have beenö time and again, but they are unlikely to be intimidated by enforcers wielding clubs and guns,” Mushba continued, criticising the administration’s reliance on intimidation. “No one relying on money and brute force has ever earned respect in Abkhazia. It seems, however, that today’s leaders believe everyone can either be bought or intimidated. But that’s not true. Underestimating one’s own people is a grave mistake.”

The atmosphere around Sukhum remains tense. Military vehicles have been spotted near the presidential administration, with state media attempting to frame the opposition as “instigators of public disorder.” Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Adgur Agrba issued statements defending the detentions, attributing them to “disorderly conduct” toward a deputy, a charge that opposition supporters dismissed as politically motivated.