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{{Short description|Abkhazian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Gennadi Gagulia.jpg
| image = Gennadi Gagulia.jpg
| name = Gennadi Gagulia
| name = Gennadi Gagulia
| native_name = Геннадии Гагәлиа <br>გენადი გაგულია
| native_name = {{nobold|Геннадии Гагәлиа}}<br>{{nobold|გენადი გაგულია}}
| imagesize = 225 px
| imagesize = 225 px
| office = [[Prime Minister of Abkhazia]]
| office = [[Prime Minister of Abkhazia]]
| term_start = 25 April 2018
| term_start = 25 April 2018
| term_end = 8 September 2018
| term_end = 8 September 2018
| president = [[Raul Khajimba]]
| president = [[Raul Khajimba]]
| successor = [[Daur Arshba]] (acting)
| successor = [[Daur Arshba]] (acting)
| predecessor = [[Beslan Bartsits]]
| predecessor = [[Beslan Bartsits]]
| office1 =
| office1 =
| term_start1 = 29 November 2002
| term_start1 = 29 November 2002
| term_end1 = 8 April 2003
| term_end1 = 8 April 2003
| president1 = [[Vladislav Ardzinba]]
| president1 = [[Vladislav Ardzinba]]
| predecessor1 = [[Anri Jergenia]]
| predecessor1 = [[Anri Jergenia]]
| successor1 = [[Raul Khajimba]]
| successor1 = [[Raul Khajimba]]
| term_start2 = January 1995
| term_start2 = January 1995
| term_end2 = 29 April 1997
| term_end2 = 29 April 1997
| president2 = [[Vladislav Ardzinba]]
| president2 = [[Vladislav Ardzinba]]
| predecessor2 = ''office established''
| predecessor2 = ''office established''
| successor2 = [[Sergei Bagapsh]]
| successor2 = [[Sergei Bagapsh]]
| office3 = Head of the Presidential Administration
| office3 = Head of the Presidential Administration
| term_start3 = 15 December 2003
| term_start3 = 15 June 2003
| term_end3 = 18 June 2004
| term_end3 = 15 July 2004
| president3 = [[Vladislav Ardzinba]]
| president3 = [[Vladislav Ardzinba]]
| predecessor3 = [[Miron Agrba]]
| predecessor3 = Miron Agrba
| successor3 =
| successor3 =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|01|04|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|01|03|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Lykhny]], [[Georgian SSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| birth_place = [[Lykhny]], [[Georgian SSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2018|9|8|1948|1|4}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2018|9|8|1947|1|3}}
| death_place = [[Myussera]], [[Abkhazia]] <br> (''de jure'' [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]])
| death_place = [[Myussera]], [[Abkhazia]] <br> (''de jure'' [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]])
| party =
| party =
| nationality = [[Abkhaz people|Abkhaz]]
| nationality = [[Abkhaz people|Abkhaz]]
| alma_mater = [[Belarusian National Technical University]]
| alma_mater = [[Belarusian National Technical University]]
| spouse = Zair Otyrba
| religion =
| children = 2 (one daughter and one son)
| spouse = Zair Otyrba
| caption = Gagulia in 2003
| children = 2 (one daughter and one son)
| siblings = 3
}}
}}


'''Gennadi Leonidipa Gagulia''' ({{lang-ab|Геннадии Леонид-иҧа Гагәлиа}}, {{lang-ka|გენადი გაგულია}}; 4 January 1948 – 8 September 2018) was an [[Abkhazians|Abkhazian]] politician who was three-time Prime Minister of [[Abkhazia]] and the head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He served as the first prime minister of Abkhazia after the post was established by the [[Constitution of Abkhazia|constitution]] in 1995, holding it until 1997. He returned to the post in 2002 and remained for several months into 2003, and held it for a final time in 2018, before dying in a car crash.
'''Gennadi Leonidipa Gagulia''' ({{lang-ab|Геннадии Леонид-иҧа Гагәлиа}}, {{lang-ka|გენადი გაგულია}}; 3 January 1947 – 8 September 2018) was an [[Abkhazians|Abkhazian]] politician who was three-time prime minister of [[Abkhazia]] and the head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He served as the first prime minister of Abkhazia after the post was established by the [[Constitution of Abkhazia|constitution]] in 1995, holding it until 1997. He returned to the post in 2002 and remained for several months into 2003, and held it for a final time in 2018 until he was killed in a car crash.


==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
Gagulia was born on 4 January 1948 in the [[Gudauta district]] of the [[Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic]]. He graduated from the Civil Engineering Department of the [[Belarusian Polytechnic Institute]] in 1972 and worked at Stroymaster as the chief engineer and the head of the construction site from 1973-1977. He spent the following 15 years as a Deputy Director of Catering at Lake Rizal and as Chairman of the Gudauta district consumer cooperatives.
Gagulia was born on 3 January 1947 in the [[Gudauta District]] of the [[Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic]]. He graduated from the Civil Engineering Department of the [[Belarusian Polytechnic Institute]] in 1972 and worked at Stroymaster as the chief engineer and the head of the construction site from 1973 to 1977. He spent the following 15 years as a deputy director of Catering at Lake Rizal and as Chairman of the Gudauta district consumer cooperatives.


==Political career==
==Political career==
In the year after the [[Republic of Abkhazia]] was founded, he worked at the State Committee for Foreign Economic Relations of the Council of Ministers of the republic, before eventually serving as Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Abkhazia from 1992-1995. During the [[Georgian-Abkhaz War]], Gagulia was a member of the [[Abkhazian Defense Committee]], which was responsible for the distribution of food for the Abkhaz Armed Forces.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}
In the year after the [[Republic of Abkhazia]] was founded, he worked at the State Committee for Foreign Economic Relations of the Council of Ministers of the republic, before eventually serving as deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers of Abkhazia from 1992 to 1995. During the [[Georgian-Abkhaz War]], Gagulia was a member of the Abkhazian Defense Committee, which was responsible for the distribution of food for the Abkhaz Armed Forces.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}


===First Term as Prime Minister (1995–1997)===
===First Term as Prime Minister (1995–1997)===
Gagulia became the first Prime Minister of Abkhazia in 1995 following the adoption of the 1994 [[Constitution of Abkhazia]].<ref name=lakoba>{{cite book|last=Лакоба|first=Станислав|authorlink=|title="Абхазия после двух империй XIX—XXI вв." // 21st Century COE Program Slavic Eurasian Studies No. 5|publisher=Slavic Research Center, Hokudai University|year=2004|location=Sapporo|pages=|url=http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/coe21/publish/no5_ses/contents.html|doi=|id=|isbn=}}</ref> As prime minister Gagulia had a reputation for being the most pro-Russian of Abkhazia's prime ministers. He steadfastly opposed both reunification with [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Georgian-Abkhaz border. He also alluded to the possibility of [[Abkhazia]] unifying with [[Russia]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} While in this role, he met with a number of foreign leaders, including Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] and Georgian President [[Eduard Shevardnadze]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} In 1997, Gagulia resigned from the prime ministership, citing health reasons.
Gagulia became the first Prime Minister of Abkhazia in 1995 following the adoption of the 1994 [[Constitution of Abkhazia]].<ref name=lakoba>{{cite book|last=Лакоба|first=Станислав|title="Абхазия после двух империй XIX—XXI вв." // 21st Century COE Program Slavic Eurasian Studies No. 5|publisher=Slavic Research Center, Hokudai University|year=2004|location=Sapporo|url=http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/coe21/publish/no5_ses/contents.html}}</ref> As prime minister Gagulia had a reputation for being the most pro-Russian of Abkhazia's prime ministers. He steadfastly opposed both reunification with [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Georgian-Abkhaz border. He also alluded to the possibility of [[Abkhazia]] unifying with [[Russia]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} While in this role, he met with a number of foreign leaders, including Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] and Georgian President [[Eduard Shevardnadze]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} In 1997, Gagulia resigned from the prime ministership, citing health reasons.


=== Career (1997–2002) ===
=== Career (1997–2002) ===
In between his first two terms as prime minister, Gagulia served as the chair of the [[Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Abkhazia]]. He was also deputy prime minister under [[Anri Jergenia]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}
In between his first two terms as prime minister, Gagulia served as the chair of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Abkhazia. He was also deputy prime minister under [[Anri Jergenia]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}


=== Second Term as Prime Minister (2002–2003) ===
=== Second Term as Prime Minister (2002–2003) ===
When Jergenia was fired on 29 November 2002, Gagulia was appointed as prime minister for the second time.<ref name=IWPR>{{cite news|last=Khashig|first=Inal|title=Abkhaz prime minister ousted|work=War and Peace in the Caucasus|pages=204–205|publisher=[[Institute for War & Peace Reporting]]|date=2 December 2002|url=http://www.iwpr.net/pdf/100crs_eng.pdf|accessdate=10 July 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614183132/http://www.iwpr.net/pdf/100crs_eng.pdf|archivedate=14 June 2008|deadurl=yes|df=dmy}}</ref> He only served for only 5 months until Gagulia's government filed for resignation on 7 April 2003. Earlier that day, nine Abkhazian prisoners had escaped, four of which had been sentenced to death due to their involvement in the [[2001 Kodori crisis]].<ref name="uzel36186">{{cite news|url=http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/36186/|script-title=ru:Правительство Абхазии уходит в отставку|last=Gordienko|first=Anatoly|date=9 April 2003|publisher=[[Nezavisimaya Gazeta]] / Caucasian Knot|language=Russian|accessdate=21 December 2009}}</ref> President Ardzinba initially refused to accept Gagulia's resignation, but was forced to agree on 8 April.<ref name="civil4016">{{cite news|url=http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=4016|title=Breakaway Abkhaz Government in Crisis|date=9 April 2003|publisher=[[Civil Georgia]]|accessdate=21 December 2009}}</ref> Vice President [[Valery Arshba]] denied on 8 April that the government's resignation was due to the prison escape, and stated that instead it was caused by the opposition's plans to hold protest rallies on 10 April.<ref name="civil4010">{{cite news|url=http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=4010|title=Abkhaz de facto Premier Remains on Post|date=8 April 2003|publisher=[[Civil Georgia]]|accessdate=21 December 2009}}</ref>
When Jergenia was fired on 29 November 2002, Gagulia was appointed as prime minister for the second time.<ref name=IWPR>{{cite news|last=Khashig|first=Inal|title=Abkhaz prime minister ousted|work=War and Peace in the Caucasus|pages=204–205|publisher=[[Institute for War & Peace Reporting]]|date=2 December 2002|url=http://www.iwpr.net/pdf/100crs_eng.pdf|access-date=10 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614183132/http://www.iwpr.net/pdf/100crs_eng.pdf|archive-date=14 June 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> He only served for only 5 months until Gagulia's government filed for resignation on 7 April 2003. Earlier that day, nine Abkhazian prisoners had escaped, four of which had been sentenced to death due to their involvement in the [[2001 Kodori crisis]].<ref name="uzel36186">{{cite news|url=http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/36186/|script-title=ru:Правительство Абхазии уходит в отставку|last=Gordienko|first=Anatoly|date=9 April 2003|publisher=[[Nezavisimaya Gazeta]] / Caucasian Knot|language=ru|access-date=21 December 2009}}</ref> President Ardzinba initially refused to accept Gagulia's resignation, but was forced to agree on 8 April.<ref name="civil4016">{{cite news|url=http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=4016|title=Breakaway Abkhaz Government in Crisis|date=9 April 2003|publisher=[[Civil Georgia]]|access-date=21 December 2009}}</ref> Vice President [[Valery Arshba]] denied on 8 April that the government's resignation was due to the prison escape, and stated that instead it was caused by the opposition's plans to hold protest rallies on 10 April.<ref name="civil4010">{{cite news|url=http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=4010|title=Abkhaz de facto Premier Remains on Post|date=8 April 2003|publisher=[[Civil Georgia]]|access-date=21 December 2009}}</ref>


=== Career after his Second Term (2003–2018) ===
=== Career after his Second Term (2003–2018) ===
On 15 December 2003, Gagulia was appointed head of the Presidential administration, succeeding [[Miron Agrba]].<ref name="uzel48035">{{cite news|url=http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/48035/|script-title=ru:Экс-премьер-министр Абхазии назначен руководителем администрации президента республики|last=Kuchuberia|first=Anzhela|date=17 December 2003|publisher=Caucasian Knot|language=Russian|accessdate=20 December 2009}}</ref> On 18 June 2004, Gagulia resigned from his post, stating "There is a certain scenario to the presidential elections in Abkhazia. I don't match this scenario and thus I prefer to step down."<ref name="uzel57244">{{cite news|url=http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/57244/|script-title=ru:Администрации Президента Республики Абхазия|last=Kuchuberia|first=Anzhela|date=18 June 2004|publisher=Caucasian Knot|language=Russian|accessdate=20 December 2009}}</ref>
On 15 December 2003, Gagulia was appointed head of the Presidential administration, succeeding Miron Agrba.<ref name="uzel48035">{{cite news|url=http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/48035/|script-title=ru:Экс-премьер-министр Абхазии назначен руководителем администрации президента республики|last=Kuchuberia|first=Anzhela|date=17 December 2003|publisher=Caucasian Knot|language=ru|access-date=20 December 2009}}</ref> On 18 June 2004, Gagulia resigned from his post, stating "There is a certain scenario to the presidential elections in Abkhazia. I don't match this scenario and thus I prefer to step down."<ref name="uzel57244">{{cite news|url=http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/57244/|script-title=ru:Администрации Президента Республики Абхазия|last=Kuchuberia|first=Anzhela|date=18 June 2004|publisher=Caucasian Knot|language=ru|access-date=20 December 2009}}</ref>


It had been suggested that Ardzinba may have also favoured Gagulia to replace him as President, but Ardzinba instead decided to back then-Prime Minister [[Raul Khajimba]].
It had been suggested that Ardzinba may have also favoured Gagulia to replace him as president, but Ardzinba instead decided to back then-Prime Minister [[Raul Khajimba]].


On 24 June 2004, Gagulia was again appointed head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Abkhazia, succeeding [[Yuri Aqaba]].<ref name="uzel57654">{{cite news|url=http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/57654/|script-title=ru:Бывший руководитель администрации президента Абхазии Геннадий Гагулия возглавил Торгово-промышленную палату республики|last=Kuchuberia|first=Anzhela|date=25 June 2004|publisher=Caucasian Knot|language=Russian|accessdate=20 December 2009}}</ref> Gagulia remained in that position until April 2018.
On 24 June 2004, Gagulia was again appointed head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Abkhazia, succeeding Yuri Aqaba.<ref name="uzel57654">{{cite news|url=http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/57654/|script-title=ru:Бывший руководитель администрации президента Абхазии Геннадий Гагулия возглавил Торгово-промышленную палату республики|last=Kuchuberia|first=Anzhela|date=25 June 2004|publisher=Caucasian Knot|language=ru|access-date=20 December 2009}}</ref> Gagulia remained in that position until April 2018.


===Third Term as Prime Minister (2018)===
===Third Term as Prime Minister (2018)===
Gagulia was reappointed Prime Minister of Abkhazia in April 2018 by President Raul Khajimba, replacing [[Beslan Bartsits]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://apsnypress.info/en/news/gennady-gagulia-is-appointed-as-prime-minister-of-the-republic-of-abkhazia/ | title=Gennady Gagulia is appointed as Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia | work=State Information Agency of the Republic of Abkhazia | date=24 April 2018 | accessdate=9 September 2018}}</ref>
Gagulia was reappointed Prime Minister of Abkhazia in April 2018 by President Raul Khajimba, replacing [[Beslan Bartsits]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://apsnypress.info/en/news/gennady-gagulia-is-appointed-as-prime-minister-of-the-republic-of-abkhazia/ | title=Gennady Gagulia is appointed as Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia | work=State Information Agency of the Republic of Abkhazia | date=24 April 2018 | access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
Gagulia was killed in a car accident outside the village of [[Myussera]], [[Gudauta District]] on 8 September 2018. He was returning from [[Sochi International Airport]] following a 3-day visit with Khajimba to [[Syria]], which was one of the few countries that [[International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia|recognized Abkhazia's independence]], and where a [[Circassians in Syria|large Circassian and Abkhaz minority]] lives.<ref name="Abkhazia PM dies" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sputnik-abkhazia.ru/news/20180904/1024906967/xadzhimba-o-vstreche-s-basharom-asadom.html|title=Хаджимба на встрече с Асадом: это историческое событие|last=Sputnik|website=sputnik-abkhazia.ru|language=ru|access-date=2018-09-09}}</ref> He also met [[Bashar al-Assad]] there.<ref name="Abkhazia PM dies">{{cite news|url=https://www.rt.com/news/437974-abkhazia-pm-dies-car-crash/|title=Abkhazia PM dies in presidential cortege car accident on return from official Syria visit|work=Russia Today|date=8 September 2018|accessdate=9 September 2018}}</ref> A car collided with the convoy, and the impact forced Gagulia's car into the ditch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jam-news.net/?p=121079|title=Abkhaz Prime Minister Gennadi Gagulia dies in car crash|publisher=Jam-News.net|date=9 September 2018|accessdate=9 September 2018}}</ref> The car was driven by a 22-year-old Abkhaz man, who was, according to local authorities, "under the influence of narcotics".<ref>{{cite news |title=Abkhaz Government Head Dies in a Car Crash |url=https://civil.ge/archives/253192 |accessdate=18 September 2018 |work=Civil Georgia |date=9 September 2018}}</ref> He died on the spot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sputnik-abkhazia.ru/news/20180909/1024952142/dameniya-o-gibeli-gaguliya-poteryali-cheloveka-kotoryj-mog-prinesti-nemalo-polzy.html|title=Дамения о гибели Гагулия: потеряли человека, который мог принести немало пользы|last=Sputnik|website=sputnik-abkhazia.ru|language=ru|access-date=2018-09-09}}</ref> Two others, Gagulia's bodyguard and a driver, were injured in the crash.<ref name="Abkhazia PM dies"/>
Gagulia was killed in a car accident outside the village of [[Myussera]], [[Gudauta District]] on 8 September 2018. He was returning from [[Sochi International Airport]] following a 3-day visit with Khajimba to [[Syria]].{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} A car collided with the convoy, and the impact forced Gagulia's car into the ditch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jam-news.net/?p=121079|title=Abkhaz Prime Minister Gennadi Gagulia dies in car crash|publisher=Jam-News.net|date=9 September 2018|access-date=9 September 2018|archive-date=11 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211052226/https://jam-news.net/?p=121079|url-status=dead}}</ref> The car was driven by a 22-year-old Abkhaz man, who was, according to local authorities, "under the influence of narcotics".<ref>{{cite news |title=Abkhaz Government Head Dies in a Car Crash |url=https://civil.ge/archives/253192 |access-date=18 September 2018 |work=Civil Georgia |date=9 September 2018}}</ref> He died on the spot.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}


Khajimba, who was travelling in the same convoy and witnessed the crash, suggested it was not an assassination attempt or terrorism, but rather an accident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dfwatch.net/abkhazias-de-facto-prime-minister-killed-car-accident-51011|title=Abkhazia's de facto prime minister killed in car accident|date=9 September 2018|publisher=DFWatch.net|accessdate=9 September 2018}}</ref>
Khajimba, who was travelling in the same convoy and witnessed the crash, suggested it was not an assassination attempt or terrorism, but rather an accident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dfwatch.net/abkhazias-de-facto-prime-minister-killed-car-accident-51011|title=Abkhazia's de facto prime minister killed in car accident|date=9 September 2018|publisher=DFWatch.net|access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 81: Line 81:
{{Succession box| before=[[Sokrat Jinjolia]] | title=[[Prime Minister of Abkhazia]] | years=January 1995 &ndash; 29 April 1997 | after=[[Sergei Bagapsh]]}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Sokrat Jinjolia]] | title=[[Prime Minister of Abkhazia]] | years=January 1995 &ndash; 29 April 1997 | after=[[Sergei Bagapsh]]}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Anri Jergenia]] | title=[[Prime Minister of Abkhazia]] | years=29 November 2002 &ndash; 8 April 2003 | after=[[Raul Khajimba]]}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Anri Jergenia]] | title=[[Prime Minister of Abkhazia]] | years=29 November 2002 &ndash; 8 April 2003 | after=[[Raul Khajimba]]}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Miron Agrba]] | title=Head of the Presidential Administration | years=15 December 2003 &ndash; 18 June 2004 | after=[[Emma Avidzba]]}}
{{Succession box| before=Miron Agrba | title=Head of the Presidential Administration | years=15 December 2003 &ndash; 18 June 2004 | after=Emma Avidzba}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Yuri Aqaba]] | title=Head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry | years=24 June 2004 &ndash; April 2018 | after=[[Tamila Mertskhulava]]}}
{{Succession box| before=Yuri Aqaba | title=Head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry | years=24 June 2004 &ndash; April 2018 | after=Tamila Mertskhulava}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Beslan Bartsits]] | title=[[Prime Minister of Abkhazia]] | years=24 April 2018 &ndash; 8 September 2018 | after=TBA}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Beslan Bartsits]] | title=[[Prime Minister of Abkhazia]] | years=24 April 2018 &ndash; 8 September 2018 | after=[[Daur Arshba]]<br>{{small|(Acting)}}}}
{{S-end}}
{{S-end}}


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gagulia, Gennady}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gagulia, Gennady}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Gudauta District]]
[[Category:People from Gudauta District]]
[[Category:Prime Ministers of Abkhazia]]
[[Category:Prime ministers of Abkhazia]]
[[Category:Heads of the Presidential Administration of Abkhazia]]
[[Category:Heads of the Presidential Administration of Abkhazia]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in Abkhazia]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in Abkhazia]]

Revision as of 07:28, 28 June 2024

Gennadi Gagulia
Геннадии Гагәлиа
გენადი გაგულია
Gagulia in 2003
Prime Minister of Abkhazia
In office
25 April 2018 – 8 September 2018
PresidentRaul Khajimba
Preceded byBeslan Bartsits
Succeeded byDaur Arshba (acting)
In office
29 November 2002 – 8 April 2003
PresidentVladislav Ardzinba
Preceded byAnri Jergenia
Succeeded byRaul Khajimba
In office
January 1995 – 29 April 1997
PresidentVladislav Ardzinba
Preceded byoffice established
Succeeded bySergei Bagapsh
Head of the Presidential Administration
In office
15 June 2003 – 15 July 2004
PresidentVladislav Ardzinba
Preceded byMiron Agrba
Personal details
Born(1947-01-03)3 January 1947
Lykhny, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Died8 September 2018(2018-09-08) (aged 71)
Myussera, Abkhazia
(de jure Georgia)
NationalityAbkhaz
SpouseZair Otyrba
Children2 (one daughter and one son)
Alma materBelarusian National Technical University

Gennadi Leonidipa Gagulia (Abkhaz: Геннадии Леонид-иҧа Гагәлиа, Georgian: გენადი გაგულია; 3 January 1947 – 8 September 2018) was an Abkhazian politician who was three-time prime minister of Abkhazia and the head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He served as the first prime minister of Abkhazia after the post was established by the constitution in 1995, holding it until 1997. He returned to the post in 2002 and remained for several months into 2003, and held it for a final time in 2018 until he was killed in a car crash.

Early life and career

Gagulia was born on 3 January 1947 in the Gudauta District of the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. He graduated from the Civil Engineering Department of the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute in 1972 and worked at Stroymaster as the chief engineer and the head of the construction site from 1973 to 1977. He spent the following 15 years as a deputy director of Catering at Lake Rizal and as Chairman of the Gudauta district consumer cooperatives.

Political career

In the year after the Republic of Abkhazia was founded, he worked at the State Committee for Foreign Economic Relations of the Council of Ministers of the republic, before eventually serving as deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers of Abkhazia from 1992 to 1995. During the Georgian-Abkhaz War, Gagulia was a member of the Abkhazian Defense Committee, which was responsible for the distribution of food for the Abkhaz Armed Forces.[citation needed]

First Term as Prime Minister (1995–1997)

Gagulia became the first Prime Minister of Abkhazia in 1995 following the adoption of the 1994 Constitution of Abkhazia.[1] As prime minister Gagulia had a reputation for being the most pro-Russian of Abkhazia's prime ministers. He steadfastly opposed both reunification with Georgia and the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Georgian-Abkhaz border. He also alluded to the possibility of Abkhazia unifying with Russia.[citation needed] While in this role, he met with a number of foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze.[citation needed] In 1997, Gagulia resigned from the prime ministership, citing health reasons.

Career (1997–2002)

In between his first two terms as prime minister, Gagulia served as the chair of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Abkhazia. He was also deputy prime minister under Anri Jergenia.[citation needed]

Second Term as Prime Minister (2002–2003)

When Jergenia was fired on 29 November 2002, Gagulia was appointed as prime minister for the second time.[2] He only served for only 5 months until Gagulia's government filed for resignation on 7 April 2003. Earlier that day, nine Abkhazian prisoners had escaped, four of which had been sentenced to death due to their involvement in the 2001 Kodori crisis.[3] President Ardzinba initially refused to accept Gagulia's resignation, but was forced to agree on 8 April.[4] Vice President Valery Arshba denied on 8 April that the government's resignation was due to the prison escape, and stated that instead it was caused by the opposition's plans to hold protest rallies on 10 April.[5]

Career after his Second Term (2003–2018)

On 15 December 2003, Gagulia was appointed head of the Presidential administration, succeeding Miron Agrba.[6] On 18 June 2004, Gagulia resigned from his post, stating "There is a certain scenario to the presidential elections in Abkhazia. I don't match this scenario and thus I prefer to step down."[7]

It had been suggested that Ardzinba may have also favoured Gagulia to replace him as president, but Ardzinba instead decided to back then-Prime Minister Raul Khajimba.

On 24 June 2004, Gagulia was again appointed head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Abkhazia, succeeding Yuri Aqaba.[8] Gagulia remained in that position until April 2018.

Third Term as Prime Minister (2018)

Gagulia was reappointed Prime Minister of Abkhazia in April 2018 by President Raul Khajimba, replacing Beslan Bartsits.[9]

Death

Gagulia was killed in a car accident outside the village of Myussera, Gudauta District on 8 September 2018. He was returning from Sochi International Airport following a 3-day visit with Khajimba to Syria.[citation needed] A car collided with the convoy, and the impact forced Gagulia's car into the ditch.[10] The car was driven by a 22-year-old Abkhaz man, who was, according to local authorities, "under the influence of narcotics".[11] He died on the spot.[citation needed]

Khajimba, who was travelling in the same convoy and witnessed the crash, suggested it was not an assassination attempt or terrorism, but rather an accident.[12]

References

  1. ^ Лакоба, Станислав (2004). "Абхазия после двух империй XIX—XXI вв." // 21st Century COE Program Slavic Eurasian Studies – No. 5. Sapporo: Slavic Research Center, Hokudai University.
  2. ^ Khashig, Inal (2 December 2002). "Abkhaz prime minister ousted" (PDF). War and Peace in the Caucasus. Institute for War & Peace Reporting. pp. 204–205. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  3. ^ Gordienko, Anatoly (9 April 2003). Правительство Абхазии уходит в отставку (in Russian). Nezavisimaya Gazeta / Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  4. ^ "Breakaway Abkhaz Government in Crisis". Civil Georgia. 9 April 2003. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  5. ^ "Abkhaz de facto Premier Remains on Post". Civil Georgia. 8 April 2003. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  6. ^ Kuchuberia, Anzhela (17 December 2003). Экс-премьер-министр Абхазии назначен руководителем администрации президента республики (in Russian). Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  7. ^ Kuchuberia, Anzhela (18 June 2004). Администрации Президента Республики Абхазия (in Russian). Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  8. ^ Kuchuberia, Anzhela (25 June 2004). Бывший руководитель администрации президента Абхазии Геннадий Гагулия возглавил Торгово-промышленную палату республики (in Russian). Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  9. ^ "Gennady Gagulia is appointed as Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia". State Information Agency of the Republic of Abkhazia. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Abkhaz Prime Minister Gennadi Gagulia dies in car crash". Jam-News.net. 9 September 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Abkhaz Government Head Dies in a Car Crash". Civil Georgia. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Abkhazia's de facto prime minister killed in car accident". DFWatch.net. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Abkhazia
January 1995 – 29 April 1997
Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Abkhazia
29 November 2002 – 8 April 2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Miron Agrba
Head of the Presidential Administration
15 December 2003 – 18 June 2004
Succeeded by
Emma Avidzba
Preceded by
Yuri Aqaba
Head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry
24 June 2004 – April 2018
Succeeded by
Tamila Mertskhulava
Preceded by Prime Minister of Abkhazia
24 April 2018 – 8 September 2018
Succeeded by
Daur Arshba
(Acting)