Abkhaz opposition figure hospitalized after attack

Eshsou Kakalia, a member of the Supreme Council of the opposition public organization "Aidgylara," received a gunshot wound and was hospitalized.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, three Russian political strategists were detained on November 5, 2025, on the eve of the municipal elections, at the office of the pro-presidential publication "Abkhaz Herald," which was being published without permits. According to Abkhaz media, the political strategists were expelled from the republic. In late December, a court in Sukhum found the actions of Russian political strategist Ivan Reva before the municipal elections to be violations of electoral law and fined him under three administrative offenses. In early February, Eshsou Kakalia and Aslan Kmuzov, participants in the incident involving political strategists, were given a preventive measure in the form of a written undertaking not to leave the city and to behave appropriately.

Today, February 21, Eshsou Ivanovich Kakalia, born in 1974, was admitted to the Sukhum Central District Hospital with a gunshot wound. The Abkhaz Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) has put the city on alert, and a standoff has been declared in the city.

According to Aiashar, relatives of a high-ranking official are involved in the attack. The opposition figure "was physically assaulted and sustained several gunshot wounds," the publication said.

The opposition demanded that the "Abkhazia Team" candidates, for whom Russians had been campaigning, be removed from the municipal elections. On November 24, it became known that three suspects had been placed on the federal wanted list in a criminal case involving an armed robbery on the territory of Abkhazia (against Russian political strategists). "The credible involvement of Kan Kvarchia, Eshsou Kakalia, and Khyn Dumava in the commission of this crime has been established; they have been placed on the federal wanted list," the statement on the website of the Sochi Department of Internal Affairs of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Krasnodar Territory said. The damage was estimated at 1.9 million rubles. The municipal elections, which a team of Russian political strategists attended, were aimed at eradicating political competition, and opposition representatives who interfered with the election results were subject to criminal prosecution in Russia, Abkhazian politicians stated, calling on the president to protect citizens' rights and the republic's sovereignty. Abkhazian President Badra Gunba stated that citizens of Abkhazia, regardless of the crime they are suspected of committing, are not subject to extradition to another country in accordance with the Constitution.

As a reminder, Kakalia was the head of the coordination headquarters for resolving the political crisis during the period when protesters were seeking the resignation of President Aslan Bzhania.

 Then, during the protests, There were scuffles between security forces and opponents of the investment agreement with Russia. Security forces used gas and smoke bombs, and shots were also fired. Eight people were injured. Protesters surrounded a complex of government buildings, including the parliament building and the presidential administration. In November 2024, as a result of the protests, President Aslan Bzhania resigned. The "Caucasian Knot" prepared a report "Early Elections of the President of Abkhazia".