A tragic shooting occurred in the parliament building of Abkhazia, a breakaway Georgian region supported by Russia, resulting in the death of lawmaker Vakhtang Golandzia. The press service of the region’s presidency confirmed that Golandzia succumbed to his injuries after being shot at the parliament building. Another lawmaker was also wounded in the attack, suffering an arm injury.
According to the Abkhazian state news agency, Apsnypress, the interior ministry identified lawmaker Adgur Kharazia as the suspect behind the shooting. He is reported to have fled the scene, and the authorities have yet to release details on the motive for the attack.
Abkhazia, a lush subtropical territory on the Black Sea, declared independence from Georgia in the early 1990s after a war that followed the Soviet Union’s collapse. Since then, it has remained under Russian support and recognition, particularly after the 2008 war in which Russia defeated Georgia and recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.
Tensions have been high in Abkhazia, especially following protests last month against an investment agreement with Russia that many feared would lead to wealthy Russian investors buying up local property, displacing residents.
The protests resulted in the resignation of President Aslan Bzhania, with Vice President Badra Gunba assuming the role of interim leader. Despite parliamentary opposition, the agreement with Russia remains a contentious issue, reflecting the broader political and economic struggles in the region
