Igor Akhba
Encyclopedia
Igor Murat-ipa Akhba is the current ambassador of the Republic of Abkhazia to the Russian Federation, and a one time Minister for Foreign Affairs.
, in what was then the Abkhazian ASSR. In 1972 he graduated from the faculty of law of the Moscow State University
. In 1975 Akhba obtained a degree in Public and International Law from the Post-graduate Institute of State and Law of the USSR Academy of Sciences. From 1976 until 1989 Akhba worked as a research fellow with the V. I. Lenin State Library of the USSR
. From 1989 until 1992 he was an assistant in the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union.
to Russia, a post he has held ever since. On 28 July 2004, Akhba was temporarily appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia by outgoing President Vladislav Ardzinba
. On 14 December 2004, shortly after the height of the crisis following the 2004 presidential election
, he was replaced by Sergei Shamba and returned to his posting in Moscow
.
On 26 August 2008 the Republic of Abkhazia was formally recognised as independent by the Russian Federation
, on 9 September the two states established diplomatic relations
and on 14 November Igor Akhba was appointed as the first Abkhazian ambassador to Russia.
On 10 December 2008 he presented his credentials to Grigory Karasin
, the State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and presented his Letter of Credence
to President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev
on 16 January 2009.
Early life and career
Igor Akhba was born 5 February 1949 in SukhumiSukhumi
Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. The city suffered heavily during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the early 1990s.-Naming:...
, in what was then the Abkhazian ASSR. In 1972 he graduated from the faculty of law of the Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
. In 1975 Akhba obtained a degree in Public and International Law from the Post-graduate Institute of State and Law of the USSR Academy of Sciences. From 1976 until 1989 Akhba worked as a research fellow with the V. I. Lenin State Library of the USSR
Russian State Library
The Russian State Library is the national library of Russia, located in Moscow. It is the largest in the country and the third largest in the world for its collection of books . It was named the V. I...
. From 1989 until 1992 he was an assistant in the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union.
Diplomatic and political career
In 1992, Igor Akhba was named presidential plenipotentiaryPlenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
to Russia, a post he has held ever since. On 28 July 2004, Akhba was temporarily appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia by outgoing President Vladislav Ardzinba
Vladislav Ardzinba
Vladislav Grigori-ipa Ardzinba was the first President of Abkhazia. A historian by education, Ardzinba led Abkhazia to de facto independence in the 1992-1993 War with Georgia, but its de jure independence from Georgia remained internationally unrecognised during Ardzinba's two terms as President...
. On 14 December 2004, shortly after the height of the crisis following the 2004 presidential election
Abkhazian presidential election, 2004
On 3 October 2004 Abkhazia held its second Presidential elections since the post of President of the Republic of Abkhazia was created in 1994, and the first that were competitive. Election law prohibited incumbent President Vladislav Ardzinba from running for a third term and he instead backed...
, he was replaced by Sergei Shamba and returned to his posting 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...
.
On 26 August 2008 the Republic of Abkhazia was formally recognised as independent by the Russian Federation
International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Abkhazia and South Ossetia are two breakaway republics in the Caucasus with disputed status over whether they are a part of Georgia or sovereign states. The Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia were recognised following the 2008 South Ossetia War between Russia and Georgia, by six...
, on 9 September the two states established diplomatic relations
Abkhazia–Russia relations
Abkhazia–Russia relations is the bilateral relationship between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation.Russia recognised Abkhazia on 26 August 2008, following the August 2008 South Ossetia war...
and on 14 November Igor Akhba was appointed as the first Abkhazian ambassador to Russia.
On 10 December 2008 he presented his credentials to Grigory Karasin
Grigory Karasin
Grigory Borisovich Karasin is a career diplomat and is currently the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia,...
, the State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and presented his Letter of Credence
Letter of Credence
A letter of credence is a formal letter usually sent by one head of state to another that formally grants diplomatic accreditation to a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter...
to President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
on 16 January 2009.