^{Aslan Bzhania has served as the leader of Abkhazia since 2020. Photo}

The leader of Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia, has announced his resignation following days of mass protests against a contentious pro-Russia bill, BBC reports on November 18th.

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Aslan Bzhania’s press office announced that he is stepping down “to maintain stability and constitutional order”, adding that an agreement had been reached for protesters who stormed the parliament in Sukhumi to disperse by Tuesday, November 12th.

The bill, which proposed legalizing Russian investment and land ownership, has been withdrawn.

Abkhazia declared independence in 1999, gaining recognition from Russia as an independent state following the Georgian-Russian war in 2008. Georgia considers Abkhazia “occupied” by Moscow, while most states view the Black Sea region as part of Georgian territory.

BBC and agencies