The so-called Apartment Bill, envisaging the construction and facilitation of the purchase by the non-residents of thousands of apartments in the eastern part of the occupied Abkhazia, has been withdrawn “in order to ease tensions and preserve stability”.

According to the so-called parliament of the region, this decision was made taking into account the “public opinion, first of all the Council of Elders, heroes of the patriotic war of the people of Abkhazia, representatives of scientific circles, intellectuals and other concerned citizens”.

Against the backdrop of massive discontent, the de-facto authorities of Abkhazia, including its leader Aslan Bzhania, have tried to push through the “legislation” that would allow foreigners, including Russians, to build and buy apartments in the occupied region. The locals’ concerns include the potentially soaring prices, the damage that could be inflicted on the hospitality business and the possible upsetting of the demographic balance in the region.