All Recently Detained Opposition Figures Released

SUKHUM / AQW’A — Following intense public protests and widespread calls for justice, authorities in Abkhazia have released all opposition figures detained earlier this week. The individuals, Omar Smyr, Garry Kokaya, Almaskhan Ardzinba, Ramaz Dzhopua, and Aslan Gvaramia, were initially taken into custody on 11 November over alleged “unlawful actions” directed at parliamentary deputy Almas Akaba. However, charges were swiftly dismissed in court due to “lack of evidence of an administrative offence.”

The detentions triggered immediate backlash, with supporters blocking key entry points into the capital, Sukhum, particularly the vital Gumista Bridge. Under mounting pressure, the authorities opened negotiations with protest leaders, ultimately agreeing to release the detainees in exchange for clearing the bridges and restoring traffic.

Today, Sukhum’s city court officially halted proceedings against Kokaya, Ardzinba, and Dzhopua, citing insufficient grounds for the alleged “petty hooliganism” charge. No formal charges were brought against Smyr or Gvaramia, whose cases were never submitted to the court. The court’s decision has relieved some of the tension, though questions about the legitimacy of the arrests persist.

Former MP Tengiz Agrba, detained on 9 November and whose release was also a key demand of the protests, was freed today as well. The protests and road blockades had placed significant strain on Abkhazia’s security forces, prompting officials to re-evaluate the detentions. During negotiations, Sokrat Dzhinzholia, a member of the Public Chamber, assured protesters that authorities were prepared to release all detained opposition members if the blockades were lifted.

+ Detentions Spark Protests Amid Rising Tensions in Abkhazia

+ Public Outcry Grows in Abkhazia with Opposition Detentions 

An extended session of the Defence and National Security Committee of the Abkhazian Parliament convened on 12 November to address the detentions, with Deputy Prosecutor General Damir Kvitsinia and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Beslan Chkadua providing details. Chkadua explained that on 11 November, a group of individuals had allegedly engaged in verbal abuse and disruptive conduct toward MP Almas Akaba outside the parliament building, which led to their arrest under Article 166 of the Abkhazian Administrative Code — a charge of “petty hooliganism.” The court, however, found no grounds to pursue these allegations.

Despite the release of all detained individuals, public scrutiny remains high as Abkhazia faces ongoing civil unrest over what many see as a crackdown on political dissent.

Journalist Inal Khashig sharply criticised the government, stating, "With the staged video of opposition figures being pinned ‘face down on the pavement,’ the authorities seemingly intended to intimidate the discontented masses. Yet the effect was quite the opposite — a mass brawl erupted at the Kodor Bridge. The inability to assess situations and craft an effective strategy has become a hallmark of Aslan Bzhania’s team. The president’s statement, ‘there is no one to talk to there,’ eagerly echoed by certain security officials, is a completely dead-end approach. And, above all, it’s a dead end for President Aslan Bzhania himself."