TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Police and hundreds of protesters clashed Friday in Georgia’s separatist region of Abkhazia as tensions flared over a proposed measure that would allow Russians to buy property there.
The protesters gathered outside parliament in the regional capital Sukhumi, where lawmakers were expected to consider ratifying a deal that would allow Russians to buy apartments in Abkhazia, where the mountains and Black Sea beaches are popular with Russian tourists.
Most of Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in fighting that ended in 1993, and Georgia lost control of the rest of the territory during the brief war with Russia in 2008. Russia recognizes Abkhazia as an independent country, but many Abkhazians are concerned that the region of about 245,000 people is merely a puppet state of Moscow.
Opponents of the property deal say it would give preferential treatment to Russians, drive up apartment prices and increase Moscow’s dominance in the region.
The parliament session was postponed, but demonstrators remained at the fence and used a truck to break through. According to Russian and Georgian news reports, police blocked their access to the building, while the crowd threw stones and eggs. The authorities responded with tear gas.
There were no immediate reports of arrests or injuries.
The arrest of five opposition figures during a similar demonstration on Monday sparked widespread protests the next day, blocking bridges to Sukhumi.
