Protests erupt in Abkhazia over pro-Moscow property measure

Published

1 year ago

November 16, 2024

Thousands of protesters opposing a proposal that would allow Russians to buy property in Abkhazia, a Russian-backed separatist region of Georgia, stormed the parliament and presidential offices on Friday.

Opponents of the property agreement argue that it would inflate apartment prices and increase Moscow’s influence in the region.

At least eight people were injured in the clashes in the regional capital of Sukhumi on the Black Sea, according to news reports.

The protests forced parliament to postpone the session as the demonstrators gathered outside the gates of the government compound.

Local media reports say MPs had earlier planned to discuss and ratify the controversial investment measure.

Instead, demonstrators rammed the parliament gate with a truck and streamed inside the grounds, throwing rocks at police, who responded with tear gas.

According to local reports, police left the parliament building, but demonstrators remained, demanding the resignation of Abkhazia’s president, Aslan Bzhania.

Demonstrators also stormed into the presidential administration building and vowed to remain there until Bzhania resigned and snap elections were called.

The president’s office later announced he was preparing an order to remove the measure from consideration.

The unrest had been building up since Monday following the arrest of five opposition figures at a similar demonstration. The arrests set off wider protests the next day, in which bridges leading to Sukhumi were blocked.

Abkhazia’s scenic mountains and Black Sea beaches attract many Russian tourists, creating strong demand for holiday homes.

Most of the region broke away from Georgia following a conflict that ended in 1993, and Georgia lost control of the remaining territory after a brief war with Russia in 2008.

While Russia recognises Abkhazia as an independent state, many Abkhazians fear that their region, with a population of around 245,000, is effectively becoming a client state of Moscow.

Chaos As Military Officers Exchange Blows During Tinubu’s Visit To Bayelsa (Videos)

Published

4 days ago

April 12, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Personnel of the Nigerian military were seen engaging in a fight during the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Bayelsa on Friday.

In a video spotted on social media, the driver of a Hilux vehicle marked “Naval Police” was seen stepping down from his vehicle and exchanging words with another driver.

After returning to his vehicle, another driver with a rifle approached him and threw a punch at the Naval Police driver, triggering a brawl.

The incident quickly escalated into a free-for-all, with personnel attached to both vehicles exchanging blows, while stunned civilians watched in disbelief.

HRH Ekwueme of Ochia Kingdom Iynched & kiIIed in Imo.

Published

5 days ago

April 11, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Gunmen on Friday night killed the traditional ruler of Ochia, Barr Paulinus Ekwueme, alongside security operatives in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State. The attackers ambushed the monarch at the boundary of Assa and Ochia communities after he returned from a trip abroad earlier in the week.

Some security operatives in his convoy were also shot dead. Eyewitness said the monarch and the security operatives were set ablaze after the killing, adding that the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area had been thrown into mourning.

Hrm lives in America, but some in his town accuse him of acquiring lots of wealth coming from the oil in their land and yet they have no nepa (light) and other amenities, and that this angered the youths of his community to take this step. One said Ms Duruaku wrote, “he ate the youth empowerment meant given to him by shell oil company and ran abroad for years”

#Ekwutosblog

Abuja hotel collapse: Wike orders arrest of owner, to convert land to public use

Published

1 week ago

April 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate arrest of the owner of a multi-story hotel that collapsed in Jikwoyi, Abuja last Friday, April 4 and announced that the land would be seized for public use.

LIB had reported that the building crumbled while workers were on site, triggering an emergency response from relevant authorities.

Visiting the site today April 7, Wike said the building was constructed without approval from the FCT Department of Development Control and that all the stop-work notices sent to the builders were ignored by the developer.

Wike confirmed that while there were no fatalities, several people sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. He warned that the outcome could have been far worse.

Announcing the government’s plans for the land, Wike said the FCT Administration will take over the land for public use, noting that those responsible for the illegal construction will face prosecution in accordance with the law.

He added that the local community would be consulted to determine a suitable public-purpose project for the reclaimed site.