Alexander Ankvab
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.
Alexander Ankvab | |
|---|---|
| Алеқсандр Анқәаб ალექსანდრე ანქვაბი Александр Анкваб | |
Ankvab in 2011 | |
| Prime Minister of Abkhazia | |
| Assumed office 23 April 2020 | |
| President | Aslan Bzhania |
| Preceded by | Valeri Bganba |
| In office 14 February 2005 – 13 February 2010 | |
| President | Sergei Bagapsh |
| Preceded by | Nodar Khashba |
| Succeeded by | Sergei Shamba |
| 3rd President of Abkhazia | |
| In office 29 May 2011 – 1 June 2014 Acting: until 26 September 2011 | |
| Vice President | Mikhail Logua |
| Preceded by | Sergei Bagapsh |
| Succeeded by | Valeri Bganba (Acting) |
| Vice President of Abkhazia | |
| In office 12 February 2010 – 29 May 2011 | |
| President | Sergei Bagapsh |
| Preceded by | Raul Khajimba |
| Succeeded by | Mikhail Logua |
| Minister for Internal Affairs of Abkhazia | |
| In office 24 June 1992 – 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Givi Lominadze |
| Succeeded by | Givi Agrba |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 December 1952 Sukhumi, Abkhazian ASSR, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | Aitaira |
| Alma mater | Rostov State University |
| Signature | |
In the 2004 Abkhazian presidential election, Ankvab supported Bagapsh's candidacy following his own exclusion by the Central Election Commission; 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 until winning election in his own right later in 2011.
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.
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". The Abkhaz parliament declared Ankvab "unable" to exercise his presidential powers on 31 May 2014, and Ankvab resigned the next day.