The political situation in the capital of Abkhazia has worsened: residents, outraged by the detention of five opposition activists, surrounded the building of the State Security Service (SGB) and blocked important transport arteries - the Gumista and Kodori bridges. The approaches to the building of the Abkhaz presidential administration are cordoned off by military equipment. The protests broke out against the backdrop of the detention of political activists who oppose the construction of large-scale multifunctional complexes, which, according to residents, is being promoted by the former head of the Krasnodar Territory and former Minister of Agriculture of Russia Alexander Tkachev.

The events unfolded as follows: five opposition representatives, including political figures and representatives of the Union of War Veterans, were detained at the entrance to Sukhum. They were returning from a meeting in Gudauta, where they discussed with local residents the possible consequences of the new legislation on the status of multifunctional complexes. According to eyewitnesses, the detention was abrupt and accompanied by the use of force, which caused a public outcry. Videos from the scene immediately spread across Abkhaz Telegram channels, fueling public discontent. People gathered near the SGB demand the immediate release of the detainees and express concerns about the authorities' plans to develop tourism infrastructure.

The protests escalated after the Abkhaz government withdrew the draft law on apartments due to widespread discontent. However, in recent weeks the opposition has expressed concern that the Abkhaz authorities are once again trying to push through the initiative, this time through an “interdepartmental agreement with the Russian Federation on investment activity.” This document, submitted for ratification to parliament on November 15, allegedly allows Russian legal entities to invest in large projects without taking into account the interests of the local population. According to opponents of the agreement, it effectively opens the way for structures associated with Alexander Tkachev, who, according to activists, is lobbying for the construction of a large tourist complex in the Gagra region and is trying to obtain tax and customs benefits for it.

Residents of Abkhazia fear that increased apartment construction will drive up housing prices, making housing unaffordable for locals and upsetting the social balance in the region. The situation is exacerbated by poor land registry management, which activists say means land resources are being used inefficiently. Locals also worry about a possible demographic shift: with the rise in real estate and the granting of Russian citizenship, apartments could be purchased by members of the Georgian diaspora, including those who fought in Abkhazia in the early 1990s. Increased immigration, many believe, could lead to a deterioration in political stability and cause conflict.

Problems with infrastructure also play a major role in the discontent. The region's weak energy and water supply systems are already struggling to cope: last winter, rolling blackouts in the republic lasted up to eight hours daily. Protesters fear that, given the planned developments, these problems could only worsen, which would negatively impact the lives of local residents.