4th convocation of the People's Assembly of Abkhazia


The 4th convocation of the People's Assembly of Abkhazia was in place from 2007 until 2012.

Speaker and Vice Speakers

The first session of the 4th convocation of the People's Assembly was held on 3 April 2007. It was opened by the oldest deputy, Vladimir Nachach and attended by President Sergei Bagapsh, Vice President Raul Khajimba, Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab, Supreme Court Head Rauf Korua, Arbitration Court Head A. Gurjua, the deputies of the previous convocation, the members of the Cabinet and regional Administration Heads.
During the first session, Nugzar Ashuba was re-elected to the position of speaker with 26 votes. He had been nominated by Vladimir Nachach, he defeated Adgur Kharazia who had been nominated by Rita Lolua.
The number of Vice Speakers was expanded from two to three. For the first position, Nugzar Ashuba nominated Viacheslav Tsugba for re-election, and Batal Kobakhia Irina Agrba, arguing that it was time for a woman to be elected. Parliament then accepted a legislative amendment proposed by President Bagapsh allowing for a total number of three Vice Speakers, so that both could be elected. For the third position, Albert Ovsepyan was nominated for re-election by Valeri Kondakov, while opposition member Adgur Kharazia nominated Sergei Matosyan. After a heated debate and President Bagapsh expressing his support for Ovsepyan, the latter was re-elected with 19 votes.
On 3 May 2010, Albert Ovsepyan retired as Vice Speaker on account of old age. On 24 September, Sergei Matosyan was elected Vice Speaker in his stead.

Changes in composition

On 10 June 2008 deputy Omar Kvarchia suddenly died. The resulting by-election was won by Emma Gamsonia. On 1 November 2010 Yuri Kereselidze died, on 9 January 2011 Ruslan Kishmaria was elected his successor.
On 8 February, Vladimir Nachach died after a long illness. On 9 March the Central Election Commission decided that the by-election to elect Nachach's successor would be held on 30 April, that formations who wished to nominate a candidate had to register between 11 and 31 March, and that candidates could be nominated between 31 March and 20 April. Three candidates were nominated, all three by initiative groups: Kherson Dashelia, Zaur Avidzba and Said Argun. The by-election was won by Zaur Avidzba with 1028 votes, Said Argun came second with 753 votes and Kherson Dashelia third with 166 votes.
On 9 November 2011, Beslan Jopua's term as MP was terminated due to his appointment as Minister for Agriculture on 18 October by newly elected President Alexander Ankvab.

List of Members

#ConstituencyNameAffiliationPositionNotes
1SukhumiTalikh Khvatysh
2SukhumiSener GoguaChairman of the Committee for Relations with Compatriots
3SukhumiRita Lolua
4SukhumiBatal KobakhiaChairman of the Committee for Human Rights and the Rule of Law
5SukhumiLev ShambaCommunist Party of AbkhaziaChairman of the Committee for Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Ecology
6SukhumiIrina AgrbaVice Speaker
7SukhumiPavel LeshchukChairman of the Committee for Economic Policy and Entrepreneurship
8PitsundaRoman Benia
9BzybValeri Bganba
10GagraAmra Agrba
11GagraValery KondakovCommunist Party of Abkhazia
12TsandripshValery Mayromyan
13OtkhuraGarik SamanbaChairman of the Committee for Defence and National Security
14DuripshGuram GumbaChairman of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary and Foreign Affairs
15LykhnyMikhail Sangulia
16GudautaVladimir Emin-ipa NachachCommunist Party of AbkhaziaChairman of the Committee for Legislation, Judicial Reform and State BuildingDied on 8 February 2011
16GudautaZaur AvidzbaElected in by-election on 30 April 2011
17AatsinViacheslav Mikhail-ipa TsygbaCommunist Party of AbkhaziaVice Speaker
18New AthosVitali Smyr
19EsheraLev Avidzba
20GumistaAlbert OvsepyanVice Speaker until 3 May 2010
21BesletiValeri KvarchiaChairman of the Committee for Education, Science, Culture and Youth and Sport Affairs
22PshapSergei MatosyanVice Speaker since 24 September 2010
23MacharaViktor Vasilyev
24DrandaAdgur Rafet-ipa KharaziaChairman of the Committee for Local Government
25BeslakhubaYuri Zukhba
26ChlouZaur Adleiba
27KutolNugzar Nuri-ipa AshubaSpeaker
28AtaraTemur Kvitsinia
29OchamchiraBeslan JopuaCommunist Party of AbkhaziaChairman of the Committee for Social Policy, Family, Health and LabourReleased on 9 November 2011 due to appointment as Agriculture Minister
30TkvarcheliDaur Arshba
31TkvarcheliAleksandr Chengelia
32UakumOmar KvarchiaChairman of the Committee for the Budget, Credit Institutions, Taxes and FinanceDied on 10 June 2008
32UakumEmma GamisoniaElected in by-election
33ChuburkhinjiYuri KereselidzeDied on 1 November 2010
33ChuburkhinjiRuslan KishmariaElected in by-election on 9 January 2011
34GaliViacheslav Vardania
35ShashikvarBezhan Ubiria