Mirab Boris-ipa Kishmaria (Abkhaz: Мираб Борис-иҧа Кишьмариа, Georgian: მერაბ ქიშმარია, Russian: Мира́б Бори́сович Кишма́рия)[1] was an Abkhaz politician and army general who served as the Minister of Defence of the disputed Republic of Abkhazia from 2015 until 2020.

Mirab Kishmaria
Мираб Кишьмариа
Minister of Defence
In office
10 May 2007 – 1 June 2020
Prime MinisterAlexander Ankvab
Sergei Shamba
Leonid Lakerbaia
Vladimir Delba (Acting)
Preceded bySultan Sosnaliyev
Succeeded byVladimir Anua
Personal details
Born (1961-08-03) 3 August 1961 (age 63)
Ochamchira District, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Political partyIndependent
Military service
Allegiance Soviet Union (1987–1989)
 Abkhazia (1992–present)
Branch/service Abkhazian Armed Forces
Years of service1987–present
RankGeneral of the Army
CommandsEastern Front of Abkhazia
Battles/warsSoviet-Afghan War
Siege of Tkvarcheli

Early life and career

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Mirab Kishmaria was born 3 August 1961 in Ochamchire in what was then the Abkhazian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1984 he graduated from the Alma-Ata Higher Combined Arms Command School. From June 1987 until February 1989 Kishmaria fought with the 40th division of the Soviet army in Afghanistan. During the 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia, Kishmaria was commander of the eastern front of the Abkhazian army, in the Ochamchire district.

Political career

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In 2002, Kishmaria became co-chairman of the influential veteran movement Amtsakhara, together with Vladimir Nachach.[2]

On 22 March 2005 Mirab Kishmaria was appointed First Deputy Minister of Defence. After Sultan Sosnaliyev resigned as Defence Minister on 8 May 2007, Kishmaria became acting Minister of Defence on 10 May. He was appointed permanently to the post on 26 June.[3][4]

Family

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Mirab Kishmaria is married to a Georgian wife, they have 11 children. Out of these, seven fought in the 1992–1993 war with Georgia, and two died therein.[5]

Sources

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  • 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.

References

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  1. ^ "IMG_4710-250.jpg". Администрация Президента Республики Абхазия. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  2. ^ "История партии". Amtsakhara.org. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Министр обороны". Кабинет Министров Республики Абхазия. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  4. ^ "Кишмария Мераб Борисович". Caucasian Knot. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Абхазия обогнала Россию по количеству министерств: интервью кандидата в президенты Сергея Багапш". 2 September 2004. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Defence
2007–present
Incumbent