Part 7/8:
While the situation is evolving, prospects for Abkhazia to shift towards a path of reconciliation with Georgia or distancing from Russia remain bleak. For the foreseeable future, most Abkhazians still view Moscow as a vital partner. The growth of interest in European Union membership has been cited as a potential alternative, but the political trajectory of Georgia fuels skepticism about this possibility.
The recent protests shine a light on a troublesome reality; Abkhazia is caught in a cycle of dependency created by prior declarations of independence. This dependence ties the region to a patron that increasingly shapes its economic and political landscapes, ultimately impeding its autonomy.