And he is perhaps the only resemblance between the previous revolution and the current coup attempt. The previous one had no direct connection to the opposition of the time. Those oppositionists — the intellectually inclined political rivals of Raul Khajimba's team — contested election results through the courts. But the current "opposition" is different; civilized methods of coming to "power" are apparently not for the disciples and associates of the already somewhat forgotten Khajimba. A small conspiracy, a small rally, a brief victorious battle outside the presidential administration building — and a big gift for the former "authorities" and the professional "revolutionary" who has joined them, in reality a common highway bandit: Akhra Avidzba.

And so, the veterans' organization Aruaa issues one loud statement after another — declaring any possible attempt to establish trade relations with "enemy" Tbilisi "the beginning of the end of Abkhazian statehood," accusing Aslan Bzhania's team of "betraying national interests," and demanding its resignation. "Such a decision will lead to trade expansion on the part of Georgia. Having received such a gift from our authorities, Georgia — in pursuit of its political goals through economic means — will begin a policy of dumping in order to displace Russian goods from our market. Certain entrepreneurs will begin importing goods from Georgia, Georgian business partners will appear, horizontal ties will be established — all of this to the detriment of our producers and without recognition of our state," is how the corrupt representatives of Raul Khajimba's "government" — who for years have been enriching themselves perfectly well on "contraband" without paying a single ruble into the Abkhazian budget — are frightening the public. This is precisely why the establishment of civilized trade and economic relations is not in their interest: it would benefit Abkhazia, its people, and the budget — but not themselves. Their profitable illegal business would, on the contrary, come to an end. Not to mention the fact that the initiatives for trade and economic contacts sincerely proposed by Tbilisi several years ago — which the "opposition figures" are trying to present to the public as some kind of trap — provide, first and foremost, for the realization of Abkhazian products on the Georgian and European markets, on preferential terms. And what follows in the Aruaa statement is such patent nonsense that one need not be an expert in either economics or defense to understand how far removed this drivel is from reality: "The official opening of a new sales market for Georgian goods will favorably affect the Georgian economy and, as a consequence, will lead to an increase in the military capabilities of the Georgian army, and will have a negative impact on economic relations with Russia." Writing such things means having not even a minimal grasp of the volumes of revenue that trade and economic relations with Sukhumi could actually bring to Tbilisi.

I would also like to remind readers that in 2018, while serving as "president," Raul Khajimba himself advocated for "the legalization of trade on the border with Georgia." It is curious that Aruaa never once, throughout the entire duration of Khajimba's "presidency," breathed a word about demanding his resignation — despite the fact that he was directly proposing to legalize this process. Instead of demanding his resignation, it supported him throughout all those years. It is evident that the newly minted opposition wishes to exploit this issue to inflame the political situation — and nothing more.

And as "yet another proof of Aslan Bzhania's team betraying national interests," the revanchists attempted to use the private trip to Tbilisi of a fellow veteran of the 1992–93 war — a man who, just like the Aruaa members, fought from the very first day to the very last, and is now a major entrepreneur: Akun Kviray. "The 'multi-level negotiations' with Georgia inscribed by the current authorities in the Foreign Policy Concept of Abkhazia — prepared behind the people's back — mean that negotiations can be conducted, among others, by business representatives, something that entrepreneur Akun Kviray has in some measure already put into practice. We appeal to the people of Abkhazia, to those who went through the war, who lost their loved ones: today the homeland is once again in danger! Certain irresponsible politicians, together with greedy businesspeople, are ready to trade our country and its independence. We hope that deputies at all levels, as well as every true patriot of Abkhazia, will lend their voice in support of our position!" the opposition's statement reads.

And so, a rally was held in the center of Sukhumi. The "patriot from the DNR" Akhra Avidzba, together with "patriots" from their former "government" offices — outraged by Akun Kviray's trip — had nearly celebrated the long-awaited victory that had, of course, eluded them at the last elections. But alas — it did not work out. For everyone knows them too well — including the "State Security Service," which in all likelihood put a definitive end both to Akhra Avidzba's political career and to the insatiable power-hunger of those who left office just a year ago. On March 4th, the "Hero of the DNR" Akhra Avidzba and five individuals who had arrived with him in Abkhazia from the Donbas — referred to as his bodyguards — were detained on charges of illegal possession of weapons by prior agreement. Officers of Abkhazia's "State Security Service" and "Interior Ministry" conducted a search of Avidzba's home, from which firearms and ammunition were seized. Akhra faces between two and six years of imprisonment. For now — pending the conclusion of the investigation — the court has ordered him held in custody for one month.

A video appeared on social media showing Akhra Avidzba being escorted out of the courtroom. His voice is clearly audible on the recording: "I want to address the people. On the eleventh, gather and throw out these..." followed by profanity. And judging by the reaction, this video shocked many Abkhazian internet users — and not only because of the language: it turns out that Avidzba called for precisely what Bzhania's team suspected him of. "Profanity is all that Akhra Avidzba has to say to the people. Calling the people — the majority of whom voted at the elections for the current authorities — to yet another revolution (let us call it that; he uses a different word) is not an appeal to the people, who have long since grown weary of revolutions and of such 'state-builders' as Akhra Avidzba. This appeal is a confession of what law enforcement is accusing him of. It appears this is precisely the kind of 'heroism' that distinguished the hero of the DNR there, where he became that 'hero,'" writes one Abkhazian internet user. "What could Akhra Avidzba's grenade launchers bring to people? Happiness and wellbeing? Grenade launchers bring nothing but death and destruction. The boy has been playing at war — and nearly started one. Through his hands and the weapons that 'Abkhaz' was prepared to use against Abkhazians, the most recent chapter of our country's history was, thank God, not written," writes another.

And although the "RF Embassy in Abkhazia" declared that the detention of Akhra Avidzba is "an internal matter of Abkhazia," everyone understands who the "invisible" support is for the forces that have proclaimed themselves the opposition. This is attested to, among much else, by the fact that the "Russian World" is outraged over Avidzba's arrest. Russian singer Yulia Chicherina wrote: "It is absolutely clear that the current authorities' friendship with Georgia — and consequently with NATO — is already making itself felt. It is only necessary to understand that the leadership of Abkhazia is betraying not only all Russians and Russia right now, but its own people." The propaganda narrative about Georgia and NATO was also emphad by Russian war correspondent Semyon Pegov, who posted a text in his Telegram channel under the loud headline "Is Abkhazia Moving Toward Georgia and NATO?" "Abkhazians — in the person of DNR Hero Akhra Avidzba — stood shoulder to shoulder with us. Just as Russian volunteers in their time stood alongside the Abkhazians in the fight against radical Georgian nationalism. What do I see now? Akhra Avidzba has been detained in his homeland arbitrarily — he is sitting in a cell. And the Abkhazian elites are unabashedly speaking about a nascent friendship with Georgia, about how they want to attract money from there, and so on. Is it a secret to anyone that Tbilisi, in one way or another, is actively working for NATO? Did the war of 08.08.08 leave any doubts about this? Did NATO leave Georgia after that?" his publication reads. And in what way exactly NATO poses any kind of threat to Abkhazia — neither of them naturally explains.

Fortunately, Kremlin propaganda disinformation is no longer something to which anything like a majority of Abkhazian society is susceptible. "Supporting a friend in a difficult moment is a sacred duty. But surely respected people could have done so without disseminating entirely unsubstantiated claims about some kind of drift of Abkhazia toward Georgia and NATO? Keep your speculations to yourselves, friends — you have no understanding whatsoever of the internal political struggle in Abkhazia," writes, for example, one Abkhazian internet user in response to publications by well-known representatives of the so-called "Russian World."

Ordinary Abkhazian citizens have also stopped believing the Kremlin's narrative about the "brotherhood" and "historically unified destiny" of Abkhazia with the DNR and LNR. "Abkhazia and the DNR are, fortunately, not the same thing at all. This comparison, which will do us harm as a country many more times in the future, has always been unpleasant. Our history is different — the history of a country and its people, centuries-old and often sorrowful. To upset our people once again was, alas, precisely what Akhra Avidzba was about to do. His grenade launchers were the vehicle through which those who felt entirely at home in power just a year ago attempted to return to it. And the people have nothing to do with this — however the hero of another country's war might address them. Self-serving interests, not the people's interests, lie behind their new march on power," writes one Abkhazian internet user.

It appears the current self-proclaimed opposition has disappointed nearly everyone — even its own supporters. Neither the patriotic circus at a meagerly attended rally consisting of its own members, nor the "workers' revolution" — of "workers" who until recently occupied high offices — succeeded. Those who today stand behind Akhra Avidzba, peering over his shoulder — "well, has the time finally come to retake our offices?" — must understand that they are destroying not Bzhania's team, but all of Abkhazia. Furthermore, the vote percentages they received at the elections are not yet grounds for speaking in the name of the people — for their political opponents received twice as many. And self-serving interests are not grounds for revolutions. Though in revolutions, that is almost always how it is.

Ekaterine Tsanava

The material was prepared as part of a joint project of the Accent news agency and the non-governmental organization GRASS, implemented with the financial support of the Open Information Partnership (OIP).