In Abkhazia, a significant leadership reshuffle followed a fatal road crash that claimed five lives. Five senior managers, including the head of the local traffic police, were dismissed after the tragedy, a move confirmed by the press service of Abkhazia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Among those removed were Walter Butba, the head of Abkhazia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs; Rodik Bazba, the head of the republic’s traffic police; and deputies Raul Khagba and Alkhas Yenik. In addition, Inal Agrba, who oversaw the traffic police in the Gudauta district, lost his position in the area where the incident occurred. The dismissals signal a strict measure by the ministry to address the failure in traffic safety and to underscore accountability at multiple levels of the police force.
The accident happened late on a Saturday night in the village of Abgarhyku. A driver operating a Toyota lost control, veered into the opposite lane, and struck a concrete fence. The crash proved fatal for five people who were injured and subsequently died in hospital. The victims included two brothers and a sister from the same family, along with three other young individuals aged 23 to 35. Their deaths have deeply affected the local community and heightened concerns about road safety and enforcement in the region.
Following the incident, Lou Inalovich, a Militia Lieutenant Colonel, was appointed on an interim basis to serve as the head of Abkhazia’s traffic police. This temporary leadership step is intended to maintain continuity in traffic management and to support the ongoing investigation and reform efforts within the department.
Additional details from authorities indicated that the collision occurred on the Don Highway within Rostov region, involving five vehicles. The sequence of events leading up to the crash is under close review as investigators work to determine causes and any contributing factors. The broader context of the accident highlights the ongoing challenges of road safety in the region and the importance of stringent supervision of traffic enforcement agencies to prevent such tragedies in the future.