Elguja Gvazava
Encyclopedia
Elguja "Gia" Gvazava (born February 22, 1952) is a Georgian
politician. Being a native of Georgia's autonomous republic
of Abkhazia
and a member of the local legislature since 1991, Gvazava was forced, along with most of the region's Georgian population
, to flee the secessionist victory
in Abkhazia in 1993. On March 20, 2009, he became a chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, based in exile in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi
.
, Abkhaz ASSR, Georgian SSR, Gvazava graduated Sukhumi Pedagogical Institute
with a degree in biology in 1974 and continued his postgraduate training at the Institute of Medical Genetics in Moscow
from 1976 to 1981. In 1982, he acquired a position of docent
at the Sukhumi State University and, in 1991, he was elected to the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, a local legislature. Gvazava retained both his academic and legislative positions when the Georgian factions of both university and the Supreme Council was forced to relocate to Tbilisi in the aftermath of the 1992—93 war in Abkhazia. In 1995, he was further elected Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia-in-exile. Simultaneously, from 1992 to 2004, he was a member of the Parliament of Georgia
. On March 20, 2009, he became a chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
politician. Being a native of Georgia's autonomous republic
Autonomous republic
An autonomous republic is a type of administrative division similar to a province. A significant number of autonomous republics can be found within the successor states of the Soviet Union, but the majority are located within Russia. Many of these republics were established during the Soviet...
of Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
and a member of the local legislature since 1991, Gvazava was forced, along with most of the region's Georgian population
Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia
The Ethnic Cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia, also known as the Massacres of Georgians in Abkhazia and Genocide of Georgians in Abkhazia — refers to ethnic cleansing, massacres and forced mass expulsion of thousands of ethnic Georgians living in Abkhazia during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict...
, to flee the secessionist victory
War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
The War in Abkhazia from 1992 to 1993 was waged chiefly between Georgian government forces on one side and Abkhaz separatist forces supporting independence of Abkhazia from Georgia on the other side. Ethnic Georgians, who lived in Abkhazia fought largely on the side of Georgian government forces...
in Abkhazia in 1993. On March 20, 2009, he became a chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, based in exile in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
.
Career
Born in OchamchireOchamchire
Ochamchira is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast of Abkhazia, Georgia, and a centre of the eponymous district.According to the 1978 population census, Ochamchira had 18,700 residents. After the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict of 1992-93, Ochamchira experienced a significant population decline due to...
, Abkhaz ASSR, Georgian SSR, Gvazava graduated Sukhumi Pedagogical Institute
Abkhazian State University
The Abkhazian State University is the only university in Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia. It was founded in 1979 on the basis of the Sukhumi Pedagogical Institute...
with a degree in biology in 1974 and continued his postgraduate training at the Institute of Medical Genetics in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
from 1976 to 1981. In 1982, he acquired a position of docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
at the Sukhumi State University and, in 1991, he was elected to the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, a local legislature. Gvazava retained both his academic and legislative positions when the Georgian factions of both university and the Supreme Council was forced to relocate to Tbilisi in the aftermath of the 1992—93 war in Abkhazia. In 1995, he was further elected Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia-in-exile. Simultaneously, from 1992 to 2004, he was a member of the Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia is the supreme legislature of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, from which 75 members are proportional representatives and 75 are elected through single-member district plurality system, representing their constituencies...
. On March 20, 2009, he became a chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia.