Abkhazia: Member of Parliament Fatally Shot Amid Crypto Mining Debate

Facts

• Abkhazian lawmaker Vakhtang Golandzia was fatally shot and deputy Kan Kvarchia was wounded after a shooting at the Russian-backed, Georgian breakaway region's Parliament building on Thursday. The suspected shooter is fellow deputy Adgur Kharazia.^[1][2]
• The shooting reportedly occurred during a parliamentary discussion about banning cryptocurrency mining, which led to an argument. Kharazia allegedly attempted to shoot Kvarchia, but Golandzia intervened to resolve the argument.^[3][4]
• Abkhazia faces severe electricity shortages, partly from high consumption, causing ongoing rolling blackouts with under three hours of daytime power. Though crypto mining has been banned since 2018, the proposed law sought to expand the prohibition.^[3][4]
• Recent protests against a Russian investment deal led to parliament being stormed and Pres. Aslan Bzhania's resignation, with Badra Gunba becoming interim leader. The deal, which would have granted Russian investors property rights in the region, was rejected.^[5][6]
• Moscow suspended financial aid to Abkhazia in September and ordered the region to purchase Russian energy at market rates, withholding approximately 1.8B rubles ($17.3M) in funding. However, Russia has not confirmed the alleged financial withholding.^[4]
• Abkhazia, a territory on the Black Sea coast, broke from Georgia's control following a war in the early 1990s and has been supported by Russia, which recognized its independence after the 2008 war with Georgia.^[5][7]

Sources: ^[1]TASS, ^[2]Al Jazeera, ^[3]Civil Georgia, ^[4]The Moscow Times, ^[5]Reuters, ^[6]The Globe and Mail and ^[7]Barron's

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by ISPI Online and Civil Georgia. These unfortunate and simmering tensions are due to mismanagement and over-reliance on Russia, which has shifted from provider to enforcer, with power plant shutdowns highlighting years of economic inefficiency. Russia's support has also decreased as it uses energy and funds to demand concessions, showing aid isn't unconditional. This leaves Abkhazia economically vulnerable, with local leaders unable to control illegal crypto mining or foster development.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by The European Conservative and RT. Abkhazia's economic struggles stem from internal politics, not Russian influence, as the people demand change. Meanwhile, the West's overreaction to Georgia's "foreign agents law" and the suspension of EU accession talks are ironically pushing Georgia, and by extension Abkhazia, closer to Russia. Western interference, under the guise of promoting democracy, is seen as meddling, threatening Georgia's sovereignty and driving it away from the EU.