Vice President of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) Artur Muradyan reported that Russian tour operators have temporarily suspended sales of tours to Abkhazia. According to him, this is due to "educational work" with Abkhazian businesses, which are resisting the adoption of the norms that led to the resignation of the president of the republic. Muradyan noted that the deprivation of tourist flow from Russia, which is the main source of income for Abkhazia, is used as a tool of influence.

"While the Abkhazians are resisting the approval of the norms that led to the resignation of their president, educational work is being carried out with Abkhazian businesses - depriving them of the tourist flow from Russia, which was the main source of income for the republic. Russian operators are currently prohibited from selling tours to Abkhazia," - Muradyan said in an interview with Gazeta.Ru.

On October 30, 2024, Abkhazia signed an agreement with Russia on investment activities, which envisages the launch of several large-scale tourism projects on the territory of the republic. However, the opposition criticized this agreement, fearing that the arrival of Russian business could leave local residents without income from tourists. As a result, protests began in Abkhazia in mid-November, leading to the resignation of President Aslan Bzhania and Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab.

Since mid-November, Abkhazia has been experiencing problems with electricity supply. Residents of the republic have less than three hours of electricity per day in their homes. Abkhazia receives its main energy supply from the flow from Russia, as well as from the Inguri hydroelectric power station.

Earlier, former President Aslan Bzhania said that the protests in Abkhazia were supported from outside, including from Georgia and Europe. He noted that the opposition used the agreement with Russia as a reason for discontent, although the document, in his opinion, is extremely beneficial for the Abkhaz economy and population.