This morning [December 27], the so-called Parliament of occupied Abkhazia ratified the agreement on the transfer of Bichvinta country house [the so-called “Pitsunda state dacha”] to Russia.

Lasha Ashuba, the so-called Speaker of the “Parliament”, told about this to the protesters gathered in front of the building.

It should be mentioned, that in the “legislature” of Russian – occupied Abkhazia there are 35 “MPs” - 25 out of 28 supported the decision. Opponents of the transfer of the Bichvinta country house to Russia called the decision, “disgraceful”.

It was first decided in 1995 that Bichvinta would be transferred to Russia through a long-term lease, although no practical steps have been taken since then. Russia has stepped up its efforts to finalize the deal, with the text of a new agreement to transfer the land for 49 years emerging on January 19, 2022, which has yet to be ratified. The issue has been a hot topic of discussion in Abkhazia ever since, with both the public and officials divided on the matter. In May this year, young activists were arrested while protesting against the transfer.