4 days Ago By France 24
Abkhazia's president resigned Tuesday after protests over a Russian investment deal. Demonstrators stormed parliament last week, opposing Moscow's economic influence. The breakaway Georgian republic, recognized globally as Georgian territory, has been under Russian control since the 2008 war with Tbilisi.
The president of the Moscow-backed breakaway Georgian republic of resigned Tuesday, his office said, after reaching a deal with protesters who stormed parliament over a Russian investment plan. Rare demonstrations erupted last week in the republic, nestled between the Caucasus mountains and the Black Sea, over the economic deal with Moscow. Abkhazia is recognised by most of the world as Georgian territory, but has been under de-facto Russian control since a brief 2008 war between Moscow and Tbilisi.
"In order to maintain stability and constitutional order in the country...
I resign from the post of President of the Republic of Abkhazia," Aslan Bzhaniam, leader of the separatist republic, said in a letter posted on Telegram. His decision to step down hinges on a deal reached with demonstrators, under which they will vacate premises they stormed on Friday. Protesters have been blocking roads in the main city of Sukhumi.
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