Protests drive Abkhazia’s separatist president from office

Aslan Bzhania, the president of Georgia’s Russian-backed separatist region of Abkhazia, agreed to resign early on Tuesday amid sustained protests against his government’s decision to pursue a controversial investment agreement with Moscow. According to the Russian state news agency Interfax, Abkhazian Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab and State Security Service head Dmitry Dbar will also step down following negotiations with the breakaway region’s political opposition.

Just a day earlier, Bzhania told the Russian media that he would remain in office despite the protests.

For several days, the breakaway Georgian republic has witnessed demonstrations against a proposed investment agreement with Moscow that critics say would unfairly favor Russian business interests.