Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania did not sign the document on the withdrawal from parliament of the bill on the ratification of the investment agreement with Russia, TASS was informed in his press service.
“The President did not sign the document on the withdrawal of the bill “On the ratification of the agreement between the government of the Republic of Abkhazia and the government of the Russian Federation on the implementation of investment projects by Russian legal entities in the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia” of the parliament”, – says the message.
The investment agreement between Russia and Abkhazia provides for the following benefits and support measures for Russian investors: exemption for 8 years from customs duties on the import of construction materials and equipment, from paying taxes on the property of organizations and about the benefits; value added tax rate: 5% (half of the standard); quota of foreign workers, which investors distribute independently; Investors registered by the government of the republic in a special registry receive a preferential right to provide energy capacity and connect to utility and communications networks; The investor has the right to use the land provided to him by the Abkhazian authorities as collateral for a bank loan.
The minimum threshold for such investment projects is 2 billion rubles.
On November 15, parliament was due to consider this bill, but protests began near the legislative building and protesters eventually stormed it. In addition to rejecting the bill, they demanded Bzhania’s resignation. Opponents emphasized that the protest was not directed against Russia, but against the policies of the current president.
In the evening an opposition coordination council was created, negotiations began with the authorities, the president was offered two options on how he, as well as the vice president and the prime minister, could leave their positions.
Later leader of the protesters. Lebanon Mikaa announced the suspension of negotiations because “the president fled.” The press service of the head of the republic reported that he was in his native village of Tamysh, located about 40 kilometers from Sukhum on the highway to Georgia, and denied that Bzhania had gone to a Russian military base.
The opposition added that if the president does not get in touch in the morning, the issue of his resignation will be considered in Parliament, RBC reminds.
