In recent days, Abkhazia has been engulfed in mass protests and active public discussions. The local community is protesting against the de facto parliament of Abkhazia’s consideration of a bill titled "Measures for Raising the Level of Socio-Economic Development in the Ochamchire, Tkvarcheli, and Gali Districts," which proposes a totally new framework for large-scale construction of apartments and aparthotels in the territories of Ochamchire, Tkvarcheli, and Gali, with the intent to sell them to foreigners, primarily Russian citizens. According to the pilot project, the construction will cover 150 hectares, mostly including resort and recreational areas.

In Abkhazia, foreign citizens are currently prohibited from purchasing real estate. This approach has been a longstanding strategy of the Abkhaz community and political elites to maintain control over strategic resources and assets and to resist the destructive influence of Russian capital and markets on their economic and political life. However, the current government, including the de facto president Aslan Bzhania, supports changing this approach and has twice reintroduced such a bill to the de facto parliament, pushing for its fast-track review. Supporters of the bill justify the initiative by citing the need for the economic development of these depressed regions and are urging the public to adopt a more pragmatic approach.

The de facto president of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, attended the committee session on July 18, marking an unprecedented event in the activities of the so-called Abkhazian parliament since the de facto president had never before attended a parliamentary committee meeting, indicating the high level of political interest in this issue. The de facto president expressed hope that the "parliament" would support the bill before August 1, before the summer recess. He stated that the construction of apartments and their subsequent sale to foreigners would contribute to the "economic revival" of these regions.

Beyond economic arguments, representatives of the de facto government are also using security arguments. The de facto Secretary of the Security Council, Sergey Shamba, stated that besides attracting investments to Abkhazia, obstructing the "Apartments Law" would damage relations with Russia and lead to irreversible consequences in their relations with their "strategic ally."

On July 17th, during a meeting with the de facto President of Abkhazia, Bzhania, the de facto MP Temur Shergelia, while discussing the positive aspects of the proposed law, noted that the settlement of Russians in the Gali district, where 90% of the population speaks Georgian, would not only contribute to economic development but also change the ideological situation. According to him, this could lead to the dominance of the Russian language in the region.

The committee discussions took place against the backdrop of intense protests, prompting security services to be mobilized around the de facto parliament building. Neither civil activists nor the media were allowed to attend the "committee" sessions.

Civil protests against the "law" have become organized in Abkhazia, with voters across the region arranging meetings with de facto parliament members to hear their positions on the proposed law. Over the past week, protest actions have been held, including by war veterans who gathered outside the de facto parliament, demanding to be allowed into the committee hearing on the bill, which they were denied. The vice-speaker of the de facto parliament of Abkhazia, Fazlibei Avidzba, joined a statement issued by "national heroes of Abkhazia," which was signed by 59 "national heroes." The statement calls for an immediate moratorium on the sale of real estate. The Abkhazian intelligentsia also published a statement expressing serious concern about the passing of the law and urging the de facto Abkhaz authorities to declare a moratorium on ongoing construction projects. Additionally, the acting director of the Abkhaz State Radio and Television Company, Zoro Bigvava, published a post against the law.

Meanwhile, de facto parliament deputies have been holding meetings with residents in various cities across Abkhazia. At a meeting in Sukhumi, de facto parliament members Dimitri Marshania, Demur Gogia, Badrik Pilia, and Kan Kvarchia stated that they do not support this idea and oppose any form of sale of Abkhazian territory. The popular protest has influenced some MPs, leading a few who had initially supported the law to publicly change their stance, declaring that they would no longer support it.

Valeri Bganba and Valeri Kvarchia, speakers of the so called de facto 6th convocation parliament of Abkhazia, stated that passing the law contains a significant demographic threat and represents an attempt to covertly sell property. During a meeting with residents in Agushera, de facto parliament deputy Adgur Kharaziya mentioned that passing this law is dangerous for Abkhazia.

Young activists and civil society organizations have actively been opposing the initiation of the so-called apartments law. Members of the movement "Harahpitsunda" are actively covering these protests through social media, believing that the adoption of this law will be disastrous for Abkhazia's future. Young Ochamchire activist Lev Bueva also believes that this law cannot bring the benefits that the de facto Abkhaz government claims, as evidenced by past experiences. Civil activists assert that they must protect Abkhazia's interests here and now and must not allow the law to be passed.

The protest against the "Apartments Law" in Abkhazia is Based on various political, economic, and social arguments, including: 1) demographic concerns: If the law is passed, there is a risk of an increased influx of Russians into Abkhazia, which could dramatically alter the demographic landscape, potentially leading to Abkhazians becoming a minority in their own region. 2) Urban planning issues: Without proper urban planning, the law could lead to uncontrolled construction projects. 3) Economic and business interests: The “law” is seen as being in conflict with local economic and business interests, which might not be able to compete with Russian businesses and could be weakened as a result. 4) Real estate prices: There is a concern that real estate prices in Abkhazia will rise, making housing less affordable for Abkhazians. 5) Infrastructure strain: The increase in population and the doubled burden on local infrastructure could overwhelm the region, potentially leading to a collapse.

Activists on various social media platforms, including Telegram channels, openly discuss that the reintroduction of the apartments law by Bzhania is an attempt to prove his loyalty to Russia. They speculate that if he fails this "test" before the upcoming elections, it could mark the end of his political career.

Interestingly, during discussions against the "apartments law," opinions were also voiced regarding the connections and shared interests between Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, and Russia. Vitaly Gabnia, an opposition member of the political party Аpsny, responded to the law's initiation by stating that "no Russians, except Ivanishvili, are interested in Gali." A similar statement was made by former de facto Abkhaz parliament deputy Ilia Gunia, who claimed that this is a "Georgian Dream law," intended to enable Georgians living in Russia to buy these properties and eventually settle Georgians in the area [1].

On July 19th, Abkhaz political and civil associations addressed the so called parliament speaker, demanding public debates on the bill. The following day, on July 20th, residents gathered in Freedom Square in Sukhumi to protest the legislative process once again. While these views might seem speculative, reflecting another attempt to shift blame onto the Georgian side, they also highlight how the Georgian Dream government's geopolitical stance is perceived by Abkhaz society.

It is currently unknown when the de facto parliament will begin the sessional discussion of the bill. De facto parliament members continue meeting with the public, openly expressing their opposition to the proposed legislation. According to available information, 12 MPs, including the vice-speaker of the de facto parliament, do not support the legislative initiative.

It is crucial for our society, media, and political actors to pay close attention to the developments in Abkhazia and to begin actively engaging in dialogue with the Abkhaz community, offering political alternatives.

In recent times, especially following Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine and the subsequent international economic sanctions against Russia, there has been an increase in Russia's aggressive exploitation of peripheral markets and resources. This has heightened its economic interest in Abkhazia. In addition, Russia is focused on developing its military and economic infrastructure along the Black Sea, further escalating the risks of economic and political absorption of the region. For years, the Abkhaz society has been trying to resist the encroachment of Russian capital and political influence. Within this small community, mechanisms of self-organization, solidarity, and social coercion have been effectively functioning, creating both traditional and non-traditional forms of resistance. Despite the war in Ukraine, deepening isolation, and an uncertain future, the local population is striving to resist Russian influence and maintain control over resources and power, expressing their opposition loudly and critically. However, it is clear that over time, this resistance will become increasingly challenging for the local community. In this context, it is essential for Georgia, with the help of its international partners (primarily the European Union, which has unique experience in peacebuilding), to consider alternative political strategies for conflict transformation and peacebuilding. Unfortunately, discussions in this direction are scarce in Georgia, and significant political and social processes occurring in this region often go without appropriate response or attention.

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