Blasts in Abkhazia injure two people, including Russian tourist

Two explosions near the central market in the capital of the separatist Georgian republic of Abkhazia injured two people Monday, officials and a news agency said.

Photo: Blasts in Abkhazia injure two people, including Russian tourist

Abkhazia Interior Minister Otar Khetsiya said the blasts occurred at a parking lot across the street from Sukhumi's main market. He said he did not have further details.

The Interfax news agency reported two people were slightly injured, citing city prosecutor Alisa Bigavava. She said the explosions came from bombs.

On Sunday, two bombs exploded in the Abkhazian resort town of Gagri, wounding six people, regional officials said.

Abkhazian authorities blamed Georgia's government for the Sunday blasts.

Tensions in Abkhazia have been heightened in recent months amid speculation that Georgia aims to forcefully retake control of the region, which split off in a separatist war in the 1990s.

Russia recently boosted its peacekeeper contingent in Abkhazia, which Georgia believes is a move by Moscow aimed at annexing the region.