Abkhazia: Georgia breakaway region's leader resigns

Aslan Bzhania is quitting days after crowds stormed government buildings over a controversial pro-Russia bill.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersAbkhazia: Leader of Georgia breakaway region resignsAFP via Getty ImagesAslan Bzhania has been Abkhazia's leader since 2020The leader of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia is resigning after days of mass protests over a controversial pro-Russia bill.

Aslan Bzhania's press office said he was quitting "to maintain stability and constitutional order" and that the two sides had agreed protesters who had stormed the parliament in Sukhumi must disperse on Tuesday.

The bill, which would have legalised Russian investment and land ownership, has been withdrawn.

Abkhazia declared its independence in 1999, and Russia recognised it as an independent state after the Georgian-Russian war in 2008. Georgia says Abkhazia is "occupied" by Moscow.

Most countries regard the area on the Black Sea coast as part of Georgia.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr91px4nlqo

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