Opposition protesters in Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia have refused to leave key government buildings unless the regional president resigns.
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00:00Protesters in the breakaway region of Abkhazia have refused to leave government buildings
00:06they stormed to protest against a new property deal.
00:10Lawmakers had gathered in the parliament to discuss ratifying measures allowing Russian
00:14citizens to buy property with generous tax breaks.
00:18Opponents say it will drive up prices of apartments and boost Moscow's dominance in the region.
00:24The region's de facto president, Aslan Bzhania, said he would step down and hold early elections
00:29if demonstrators vacated parliament.
00:35But crowds in the capital, Sukhumi, rejected the proposal and said they would only accept
00:39his unconditional resignation.
00:42That property deal has since been scrapped.
00:45Russia recognizes Abkhazia as an independent country, but many Abkhazians are concerned
00:50that the region of around 245,000 people is a client state of Moscow.
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