Part 5/8:
As early as November 2024, tensions reached a boiling point. A proposed new law aimed at increasing Russian ownership of Abkhazian companies and land was perceived as an aggressive move towards complete domination. Protests erupted, with demonstrators claiming their sovereignty was under threat. Following the turmoil, President Bzhania fled to a Russian military base for safety and subsequently resigned in an effort to maintain stability.
Although the Abkhaz government withdrew the contentious proposal, the protests indicated a larger dissatisfaction with Russian control. This uprising, however, is not unprecedented; Abkhazia has witnessed similar leadership changes in the past under pressure from its citizens.