A legislator from Georgias breakaway area of Abkhazia has died following a shooting near the parliament in the capital, Sokhumi, regional media reported on Thursday.Lawmaker Vakhtang Golandzia, among the two deputies hurt in the shooting, passed away from his wounds, said Apsnypress.
Legislator Kan Kvartchia, who was shot in the arm, was hospitalized.Deputy Adgur Khazaria, the primary suspect, left the scene, according to media reports.
His intentions remain unclear.Telegram channel AMRA-life reported that the parliament was discussing an expense to ban cryptocurrency mining, which led to an argument between the deputies.Abkhazia is currently experiencing an electrical power shortage, partially due to high consumption, and appealed this week to Moscow free of charge electricity next year.Moscow suspended financial assistance to Abkhazia in September and bought the cash-strapped region to purchase Russian energy at market rates.
Russia has not publicly talked about Abkhazias claims that Moscow unilaterally withheld 1.8 billion rubles (approximately $18 million) in funding.Abkhazia presently runs under a rolling blackout plan, with just 2 hours and 48 minutes of electrical power provided during the day.
Electricity is turned back on in between 9 p.m.
and 7 a.m.