Alexander Ankvab

Alexander Ankvab
Алеқсандр Анқәаб
ალექსანდრე ანქვაბი
Александр Анкваб
Ankvab in 2011
Prime Minister of Abkhazia
Assumed office
23 April 2020
PresidentAslan Bzhania
Preceded byValeri Bganba
In office
14 February 2005 – 13 February 2010
PresidentSergei Bagapsh
Preceded byNodar Khashba
Succeeded bySergei Shamba
3rd President of Abkhazia
In office
29 May 2011 – 1 June 2014
Acting: until 26 September 2011
Vice PresidentMikhail Logua
Preceded bySergei Bagapsh
Succeeded byValeri Bganba (Acting)
Vice President of Abkhazia
In office
12 February 2010 – 29 May 2011
PresidentSergei Bagapsh
Preceded byRaul Khajimba
Succeeded byMikhail Logua
Minister for Internal Affairs of Abkhazia
In office
24 June 1992 – 1993
Preceded byGivi Lominadze
Succeeded byGivi Agrba
Personal details
Born (1952-12-26) 26 December 1952 (age 71)
Sukhumi, Abkhazian ASSR, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Political partyAitaira
Alma materRostov State University
Signature

Aleksandr Zolotinskovich Ankvab (/ˈɑːŋkvɑːb/ AHNK-vahb; Abkhaz: Алықьсандр Золотинска-иԥа Анқәаб, romanized: Alyk'sandr Zolotinska-ipa Anq'ab; Georgian: ალექსანდრე ზოლოტინსკის ძე ანქვაბი, romanized: aleksandre zolot'insk'is dze ankvabi; Russian: Алекса́ндр Золоти́нскович Анква́б; born 26 December 1952) is an Abkhaz politician and businessman who was the president of Abkhazia from 29 May 2011 until his resignation on 1 June 2014. He previously served as prime minister from 2005 to 2010 and as vice-president from 2010 to 2011 during the presidency of Sergei Bagapsh. He was appointed prime minister again on 23 April 2020.[citation needed]

In the 2004 Abkhazian presidential election, Ankvab supported Bagapsh's candidacy following his own exclusion by the Central Election Commission;[1] he was subsequently appointed as prime minister by Bagapsh in February 2005. Ankvab was appointed acting president of Abkhazia after president Bagapsh underwent an operation on 21 May 2011. Following the operation, Bagapsh died on 29 May 2011 and Ankvab served as acting president[2][3] until winning election in his own right later in 2011.[citation needed]

Ankvab survived six attempts on his life from 2005 to 2012, last time as a president on 22 February 2012, when his convoy was ambushed in Abkhazia, killing two of his guards.[4]

On 27 May 2014, Ankvab's headquarters in Sukhumi were stormed by opposition groups led by Raul Khajimba, forcing him into flight to Gudauta in what Ankvab denounced as an "armed coup attempt".[5] The Abkhaz parliament declared Ankvab "unable" to exercise his presidential powers on 31 May 2014, and Ankvab resigned the next day.[6]

  1. ^ Abkhaz PM Survives Assassination Attempt Archived 2007-10-08 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Georgia. July 9, 2007.
  2. ^ Вице-президент Анкваб станет главой Абхазии на время болезни Багапша (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 21 May 2011.
  3. ^ Президент Абхазии Сергей Багапш умер в Москве (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 29 May 2011.
  4. ^ Abkhazia Georgia leader Ankvab escapes deadly ambush. BBC News. 22 February 2012
  5. ^ "Georgia Abkhazia: Leader 'flees' protesters in Sukhumi". BBC News. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Ankvab Steps Down". Civil Georgia. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.