Abkhazia: Protestors Storm Parliament

Protesters in Abkhazia forced their way into the square near the parliament building, Orda reports, citing The Caucasian Knot. 

Clashes broke out between security forces and opponents of an investment agreement with Russia.

Earlier in the day, opponents of the agreement had urged people to protest at the parliament building in Sukhum, according to The Caucasian Knot. The scheduled consideration of the agreement was postponed there before the storming.

Meanwhile, Adgur Ardzinba, a protest leader, demanded authorities postpone all matters dividing the people until the upcoming presidential elections are held. The protesters and security forces later initiated negotiations.

Protests in the unrecognized republic began on the evening of November 11. The detention of five oppositions caused them. They were later released, resulting in a temporary cooling of heads.

As Ekho Kavkaza notes, local authorities see the agreement between Sukhumi and Moscow as an economic stimulus, whereas opponents view it as a "surrender of interests." The authorities eventually announced their intention to withdraw the agreement.

Protesters entered the Parliament building, and some security force officers switched sides. Protesters have also demanded the President resign.

Conversely, The Insider claims that the protests aim to redistribute zones of influence between different regional power groups. 

In May, the head of the Foreign Ministry, Inal Ardzinba, resigned. The Ardzinba clan is actively participating in the protests, according to The Insider.

The article has been updated to reflect the current situation.