Sergey Shamba
Encyclopedia
Sergei Miron-ipa Shamba is a former Prime Minister of Abkhazia, in office from 13 February 2010 until 27 September 2011. Before becoming Prime Minister, Shamba had been the long-time Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia - from 7 May 1997, with a half-year interruption in 2004, both under President Vladislav Ardzinba
and his successor Sergei Bagapsh
.
. He entered politics at the age of 24. Until February 1992, Shamba was the head of Aidgylara, which played a leading role in Abkhazia's struggle for independence. During the 1992-1993 War in Abkhazia, he served as First Deputy Minister of Defence.
. Throughout his time as foreign minister, it often fell to Shamba to defend Abkhazia's separation from Georgia
in the international media. He has been a strong supporter of Abkhazian independence, and has flatly opposed any attempts at reunification with Georgia. Though he has headed several Abkhaz delegations to United Nations
-sponsored talks with Georgia, Abkhazia has failed to receive any international recognition.
As foreign minister, Shamba dealt with several leaders of non-government organizations, meeting, among others, International Red Crescent Organization president Jean Michel Corbot. He succeeded in gaining USAID assistance for several reconstruction projects in Sukhumi
.
In 1998, Shamba received his Doctorate from the Yerevan Institute of Archeology. On 9 July 2001, Shamba was awarded the diplomatic rank of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador.
Shamba resigned from the post of foreign minister on June 14, 2004, citing a number of reasons, such as the murder, five days before, of fellow opposition leader Garri Aiba
and the upcoming presidential elections. After his resignation, he openly called for the entire government to stand aside.
-United Abkhazia
opposition alliance for the October 2004 presidential elections
. However, on July 20, 2004, the movements named former prime minister Sergei Bagapsh
and Stanislav Lakoba
as their respective Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. Shamba still participated in the election with Vladimir Arshba as his running mate and he came in third place with 6.9% of the vote. After the election a conflict broke between front runners Sergei Bagapsh
and Raul Khajimba, which was only resolved when the two teams agreed to hold new elections
in which they would participate on a joint ticket.
During the crisis on 15 October Shamba had founded the Social-Democratic Party of Abkhazia
along with other people from his election campaign, chief of staff Gennadi Alamia became its first chairman. The Social-Democratic Party called on voters to boycott the new elections and Shamba did not participate in it.
. The power-sharing agreement between Bagapsh and Khajimba stipulated that the latter could appoint the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Khajimba chose to keep Sergei Shamba, despite the fact that Bagapsh long insisted on appointing Natella Akaba. Even though Shamba had now joined the government, the social-democratic party stayed in opposition.
On 20 May 2009 the Social-Democratic Party was one of a number of opposition parties that during a press conference strongly criticised the government's foreign policy. The criticism was rejected by Shamba two days later, dismissing it as "biased".
Despite being considered by some to again be a possible candidate, Shamba did not participate in the December 2009 presidential election
. The election resulted in a second term for Sergei Bagapsh, and on 13 February 2010, Shamba was appointed Prime Minister, succeeding Alexander Ankvab who had become Vice President. On 26 February Shamba was succeeded as Foreign Minister by his deputy Maxim Gvinjia
.
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...
and his successor Sergei Bagapsh
Sergei Bagapsh
Sergei Uasyl-ipa Bagapsh was the second President of the Republic of Abkhazia. He was Prime Minister from 1997 to 1999 and was later elected as President in 2005. He was re-elected in the 2009 presidential election...
.
Early life and career
Sergei Shamba was born on 15 March 1951 in GudautaGudauta
Gudauta is a town in Abkhazia and a centre of the eponymous district. It is situated on the Black Sea, 37 km northwest to Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia....
. He entered politics at the age of 24. Until February 1992, Shamba was the head of Aidgylara, which played a leading role in Abkhazia's struggle for independence. During the 1992-1993 War in Abkhazia, he served as First Deputy Minister of Defence.
Minister for Foreign Affairs (first time)
On 7 May 1997, Shamba became Minister for Foreign Affairs, succeeding Konstantin OzganKonstantin Ozgan
Konstantin Konstantin-ipa Ozgan is the Chairman of the Council of Elders of Abkhazia and a former politician. From 1996 to 1999 Ozgan was a member of the Abkhazian government, first as Minister for Foreign Affairs and then as Minister for the Economy and First Vice-Premier...
. Throughout his time as foreign minister, it often fell to Shamba to defend Abkhazia's separation from Georgia
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...
in the international media. He has been a strong supporter of Abkhazian independence, and has flatly opposed any attempts at reunification with Georgia. Though he has headed several Abkhaz delegations to United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
-sponsored talks with Georgia, Abkhazia has failed to receive any international recognition.
As foreign minister, Shamba dealt with several leaders of non-government organizations, meeting, among others, International Red Crescent Organization president Jean Michel Corbot. He succeeded in gaining USAID assistance for several reconstruction projects in Sukhumi
Sukhumi
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 1998, Shamba received his Doctorate from the Yerevan Institute of Archeology. On 9 July 2001, Shamba was awarded the diplomatic rank of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador.
Shamba resigned from the post of foreign minister on June 14, 2004, citing a number of reasons, such as the murder, five days before, of fellow opposition leader Garri Aiba
Garri Aiba
Garri Aiba was an opposition leader in Republic of Abkhazia at the time of his murder. He died when his car came under fire on June 9, 2004.-History:...
and the upcoming presidential elections. After his resignation, he openly called for the entire government to stand aside.
October 2004 Presidential election
Shamba was one of the favorites to receive the nomination of the newly forged AmtsakharaAmtsakhara
Amtsakhara is an important political movement and party in Abkhazia, a de facto independent republic in Caucasus whose independence is recognized by Russia and Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru but whom most of the international community considers as a part of Georgia.Amtsakhara originally formed as an...
-United Abkhazia
United Abkhazia
United Abkhazia is a political party in Abkhazia. United Abkhazia was founded on March 25, 2004 as a socio-political movement, with the specific goal of presenting a single opposition candidate for the October 2004 presidential elections....
opposition alliance for the October 2004 presidential elections
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...
. However, on July 20, 2004, the movements named former prime minister Sergei Bagapsh
Sergei Bagapsh
Sergei Uasyl-ipa Bagapsh was the second President of the Republic of Abkhazia. He was Prime Minister from 1997 to 1999 and was later elected as President in 2005. He was re-elected in the 2009 presidential election...
and Stanislav Lakoba
Stanislav Lakoba
Stanislav Lakoba is an academic and politician from Abkhazia. Lakoba was current president Bagapsh's Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2004 Presidential election and until 25 August 2009 he served as Secretary of the Security Council...
as their respective Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. Shamba still participated in the election with Vladimir Arshba as his running mate and he came in third place with 6.9% of the vote. After the election a conflict broke between front runners Sergei Bagapsh
Sergei Bagapsh
Sergei Uasyl-ipa Bagapsh was the second President of the Republic of Abkhazia. He was Prime Minister from 1997 to 1999 and was later elected as President in 2005. He was re-elected in the 2009 presidential election...
and Raul Khajimba, which was only resolved when the two teams agreed to hold new elections
Abkhazian presidential election, 2005
Presidential elections were held in the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia on 12 January 2005.-Background:A Presidential election had been held in Abkhazia on 3 October, but had resulted in a prolonged conflict over the results between the two main contenders, Raul Khadjimba, who had been Prime...
in which they would participate on a joint ticket.
During the crisis on 15 October Shamba had founded the Social-Democratic Party of Abkhazia
Social-Democratic Party of Abkhazia
The Social-Democratic Party of Abkhazia is an oppositional political party in Abkhazia. It was founded during the crisis that followed the October 2004 presidential election by people from the presidential campaign of Sergei Shamba, who had come third in the election...
along with other people from his election campaign, chief of staff Gennadi Alamia became its first chairman. The Social-Democratic Party called on voters to boycott the new elections and Shamba did not participate in it.
Minister for Foreign Affairs (second time)
On 15 December 2004 Shamba had again been appointed Minister for Foreign affairs by Ardzinba, replacing Igor AkhbaIgor Akhba
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.-Early life and career:...
. The power-sharing agreement between Bagapsh and Khajimba stipulated that the latter could appoint the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Khajimba chose to keep Sergei Shamba, despite the fact that Bagapsh long insisted on appointing Natella Akaba. Even though Shamba had now joined the government, the social-democratic party stayed in opposition.
On 20 May 2009 the Social-Democratic Party was one of a number of opposition parties that during a press conference strongly criticised the government's foreign policy. The criticism was rejected by Shamba two days later, dismissing it as "biased".
Despite being considered by some to again be a possible candidate, Shamba did not participate in the December 2009 presidential election
Abkhazian presidential election, 2009
On 12 December 2009, Abkhazia held its fourth Presidential election since the post of President of the Republic of Abkhazia was created in 1994. The election was won by incumbent president Sergei Bagapsh in the first round with 61% of the votes, thus gaining a second term in office. He was be...
. The election resulted in a second term for Sergei Bagapsh, and on 13 February 2010, Shamba was appointed Prime Minister, succeeding Alexander Ankvab who had become Vice President. On 26 February Shamba was succeeded as Foreign Minister by his deputy Maxim Gvinjia
Maxim Gvinjia
Maxim Gvinjia is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia. Before he was appointed on 26 February 2010 to replace Sergei Shamba, Gvinjia had served as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs since 1 March 2004.-Early life and career:...
.