Sergei Shamba Сергеи Шамба |
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3rd Chairman of United Abkhazia | |
Assumed office 27 January 2016 |
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Preceded by |
Aleksei Tania (Acting) Daur Tarba |
9th Prime Minister of Abkhazia | |
In office 13 February 2010 – 27 September 2011 |
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President |
Sergei Bagapsh Alexander Ankvab (Acting) |
Preceded by | Alexander Ankvab |
Succeeded by | Leonid Lakerbaia |
4th and 6th Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia | |
In office 15 December 2004 – 26 February 2010 |
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Prime Minister | Alexander Ankvab |
Preceded by | Igor Akhba |
Succeeded by | Maxim Gvinjia |
In office 7 May 1997 – 14 June 2004 |
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Prime Minister |
Sergei Bagapsh Viacheslav Tsugba Anri Jergenia Gennady Gagulia Raul Khajimba |
Preceded by | Konstantin Ozgan |
Succeeded by |
Gueorgui Otyrba (Acting) Igor Akhba |
2nd Chairman of Aidgylara | |
In office 3 February 1990 – February 1992 |
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Preceded by | Alexey Gogua |
Succeeded by | Rauf Ebzhnou (acting) |
Personal details | |
Born |
Gudauta, Soviet Union |
15 March 1951
Political party |
United Abkhazia (2004) Social-Democratic Party (2004–2005) United Abkhazia (2016–present) |
Sergei Shamba (Abkhaz: Сергеи Шамба, Georgian: სერგეი შამბა) is a senior politician from Abkhazia. He is currently a member of the People's Assembly of Abkhazia and Chairman of United Abkhazia. He was Prime Minister of Abkhazia under President Sergei Bagapsh from 13 February 2010 until 27 September 2011. Between 1997 and 2010 he had been Minister for Foreign Affairs under both Bagapsh and his predecessor Vladislav Ardzinba, with only a half-year interruption in 2004. Shamba has twice unsuccessfully participated in Presidential elections, in 2004 and 2011.
Sergei Shamba was born on 15 March 1951 in Gudauta. 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.
On 7 May 1997, Shamba became Minister for Foreign Affairs, succeeding Konstantin Ozgan. 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.