Abkhazia’s Political Turmoil Deepens Amid Protests and Calls for Compromise

SUKHUM / AQW’A — The political crisis in Abkhazia continues to escalate as opposition forces reject President Aslan Bzhania's conditions and demand his resignation. Tensions remain high following a shooting incident near the state television station, while parliamentary efforts to mediate between the government and the opposition show only limited progress. With the presidential elections approaching, the struggle for power and stability in Abkhazia is reaching a critical juncture.

Abkhazia's political crisis has taken a dramatic turn as opposition leader Adgur Ardzinba, representing the “Abkhaz People’s Movement,” declared that President Aslan Bzhania will not be allowed to return to the government complex in Sukhum. Speaking to supporters outside the Presidential Administration, Ardzinba rejected Bzhania's request for opposition forces to vacate the premises, calling for his immediate resignation.

“This is unacceptable. He [Bzhania] will not step into this building again. He can submit his resignation from any location,” Ardzinba stated, urging the president to finalize his resignation.

In an effort to resolve the ongoing standoff, Ardzinba proposed a compromise aimed at balancing power during the lead-up to the presidential elections. The opposition suggested allowing the current Vice President, Badra Gunba, to serve as acting president while the Cabinet of Ministers resigns in its entirety. A new prime minister, chosen as a compromise candidate by the opposition, would then be appointed. Ardzinba emphasised that this plan would ensure fair competition and prevent misuse of administrative resources by the current administration in the upcoming elections.

Gunfire Incident Sparks Confusion

Amid the growing tensions, an overnight shooting incident near the Abkhaz State Television and Radio Company (AGTRK) building has added to the chaos. Conflicting reports from government and opposition sources have created uncertainty about what occurred.

According to President Aslan Bzhania’s press office, a group of unidentified individuals in 15 vehicles fired shots into the air near the television studio, heightening the already tense atmosphere. However, the Presidential Information Centre later claimed that security personnel guarding the station fired warning shots to deter an alleged attempt by opposition-linked individuals to seize control of broadcasting.

Opposition media, however, dismissed these claims, attributing the gunfire to an internal dispute among those stationed at the building. Critics further accused the government of using the television station to spread propaganda, with opposition outlet Apsnyhabar labelling the official accounts as fabrications to justify the presence of armed personnel inside AGTRK.

Parliamentary Mediation

Meanwhile, efforts by the Abkhaz Parliament to mediate between the government and the opposition have seen only limited progress. Speaker of Parliament Lasha Ashuba acknowledged that while some advances have been made, they are not yet sufficient to resolve the crisis.

“A meeting is underway to discuss the current situation and possible solutions. Over the past few days, there has been some progress, but it is not enough to resolve the crisis,” Ashuba stated, noting that deputies had proposed direct negotiations between the authorities and the opposition, with Parliament acting as a mediator.

The meeting was attended by 21 deputies, including prominent figures such as Astamur Arshba, Kan Kvarchiya, and Fazlybey Avidzba. However, the road to a resolution remains unclear, as both sides remain deeply entrenched in their positions.

For real-time updates and further insights, follow AbkhazWorld on X (Twitter) and Facebook.