Alexander Ankvab facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexander Ankvab
Алеқсандр Анқәаб ალექსანდრე ანქვაბი Александр Анкваб
Ankvab in 2011
Prime Minister of Abkhazia
In office 23 April 2020 – 18 November 2024
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	(1952-12-26) 26 December 1952 (age 72) Sukhumi, Abkhazian ASSR, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Political party	Aitaira
Alma mater	Rostov State University
Signature

Aleksandr Zolotinskovich Ankvab is a politician and businessman from Abkhazia. He was born on December 26, 1952. He served as the president of Abkhazia from May 29, 2011, to June 1, 2014.

Before becoming president, Ankvab was the prime minister of Abkhazia from 2005 to 2010. He also served as the vice-president from 2010 to 2011. This was during the time when Sergei Bagapsh was president. Ankvab became prime minister again on April 23, 2020. He resigned from this role in November 2024.

Ankvab supported Bagapsh in the 2004 Abkhazian presidential election. He was later appointed prime minister by Bagapsh in February 2005. When President Bagapsh had an operation in May 2011, Ankvab became the acting president. After Bagapsh sadly passed away on May 29, 2011, Ankvab continued as acting president. He then won the election in his own right later in 2011.

Ankvab faced many dangers during his career. He survived six attempts on his life between 2005 and 2012. The last attempt was on February 22, 2012, when his car convoy was attacked. Two of his guards were killed in that incident.

On May 27, 2014, groups of people protested at Ankvab's office in Sukhumi. They were led by Raul Khajimba. Ankvab had to leave and go to Gudauta. He called this an "armed coup attempt." The Abkhaz parliament said Ankvab could not perform his presidential duties. He then resigned the next day, on June 1, 2014.

Early Life and Start in Politics

Aleksandr Ankvab was born in Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia. He studied law at Rostov State University in southern Russia. After finishing university, he worked in different government roles.

He worked for the Komsomol, which was a youth organization. He also worked for the Justice Ministry of the Abkhaz ASSR. Later, he worked for the Interior Ministry of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. He left this job in 1990.

In 1991, he was elected to the Abkhazian parliament. During the conflict with the Georgian government from 1992 to 1993, he became the interior minister for the Abkhazian government. After Abkhazia's victory, he moved to Moscow in 1994. There, he became a successful businessman.

Running for President in 2004

Ankvab returned to politics in Abkhazia in 2000. He started a political group called Aitaira, which means "Revival." This group was against the government of President Vladislav Ardzinba.

In 2004, Ankvab announced he wanted to run for president. However, he was not allowed to run. The reason given was that he could not speak the Abkhaz language well enough. Speaking Abkhaz is a rule for holding public office in Abkhazia. Also, he had not lived in Abkhazia for a long enough time.

Because he could not run, Ankvab decided to support Sergei Bagapsh instead. His support was very important for Bagapsh to win the election. Many people expected Ankvab to be appointed prime minister after Bagapsh won.

Becoming Vice President in 2009

Ankvab was chosen to be Sergei Bagapsh's running mate for vice president. This was for the presidential election held on December 12, 2009. According to the law, Ankvab had to step down from his prime minister role on November 11. Leonid Lakerbaia took over his duties temporarily.

Bagapsh and Ankvab won the election. They were sworn into office on February 12, 2010. The very next day, Sergei Shamba, who was the Foreign Minister, took over as Prime Minister.

Becoming President in 2011

President Bagapsh passed away unexpectedly after lung surgery. After his death, Ankvab became the acting president. He was then nominated to run for president in the special election held on August 26, 2011.

During the election campaign, on August 15, supporters of Ankvab's opponent, Sergei Shamba, showed a video. In the video, a retired Georgian general claimed that Ankvab had worked with Georgian intelligence during the 1990s conflict. Ankvab said this was an unfair tactic. Shamba's team asked for an investigation into Ankvab's wartime activities.

However, Ankvab won the election with about 55% of the votes. He defeated both Shamba and another candidate, Raul Khajimba.

Surviving Attacks

Alexander Ankvab has survived six attempts on his life. These attacks happened while he was prime minister and later as president.

• Two attacks in 2005 (February and April).
• Two attacks in 2007 (June and July).
• One attack in September 2010.
• The most recent attack was in February 2012.

In the February 2012 attack, two of Ankvab's security guards were killed. Ankvab himself was hurt in two of the earlier attacks. Arrests were made only after the February 2012 attack. One person was later charged and arrested for the July 2007 attack.

Leaving the Presidency in 2014

On May 27, 2014, many protesters gathered in Sukhumi. They were led by Raul Khajimba. They were protesting against Ankvab. They said he was too strict and that he was not handling money from Russia well. They also said he was not doing enough to stop corruption or fix economic problems. They demanded he resign.

One of the reasons for the protests was Ankvab's policy on citizenship. He allowed ethnic Georgians to register to vote and get Abkhazian passports. Within a few hours, the protesters entered the presidential building. Ankvab had to leave Sukhumi and go to a Russian military base in Gudauta.

Ankvab said that what happened in Sukhumi was an "armed coup attempt." He refused to resign at first. The Russian government sent an aide to help solve the situation. On May 31, the Abkhazian Parliament said Ankvab was "unable" to do his presidential duties. They appointed the parliament chairman, Valery Bganba, as a temporary president. They also called for a new presidential election on August 24. On June 1, 2014, Ankvab officially stepped down as president.

Prime Minister Again (2020-2024)

On April 24, 2020, President Aslan Bzhania appointed Ankvab as the prime minister of Abkhazia. This happened after Valery Bganba resigned from the role. Ankvab resigned again on November 19, 2024. This was after new protests against the government, specifically about an investment agreement with Russia.

See also

In Spanish: Alexander Ankvab para niños