Akaki Eliava ( ka, აკაკი ელიავა; 1952 – 9 July 2000) was a

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

military officer involved in the

Georgian civil war The Georgian Civil War lasted from 1991 to 1993 in the South Caucasian country of Georgia. It consisted of inter-ethnic and international conflicts in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as the violent military ''coup d'état'' ...

, 1993. Supporter of the ousted president

Zviad Gamsakhurdia Zviad Konstantines dze Gamsakhurdia ( ka, ზვიად გამსახურდია, tr; russian: Звиа́д Константи́нович Гамсаху́рдия, Zviad Konstantinovich Gamsakhurdiya; 31 March 1939 – 31 December 1 ...

, he staged an abortive revolt against the government of

Eduard Shevardnadze Eduard Ambrosis dze Shevardnadze ( ka, ედუარდ ამბროსის ძე შევარდნაძე}, romanized: ; 25 January 1928 – 7 July 2014) was a Soviet and Georgian politician and diplomat who governed Georgia for ...

in 1998, and was killed in a skirmish with police in 2000. Born in

Senaki Senaki ( ka, სენაკი; xmf, სანაკი) is a town in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, western Georgia. It is located at around between the rivers Tekhura/i and Tsivi, at an elevation of 28–38 meters above sea level. Senaki is ...

, western Georgia, he joined in 1992 the National Guard, a powerful paramilitary force large faction of which had been involved in a successful coup against President

in December 1991-January 1992. When the ousted president returned to Georgia to reclaim power in September 1993, Colonel Eliava met him with his battalion at the

Zugdidi Zugdidi ( ka, ზუგდიდი; xmf, ზუგდიდი or ზუგიდი) is a city in the western Georgian historical province of Samegrelo (Mingrelia). It is situated in the north-west of that province. The city is located 318 kilom ...

airport, and rallied Gamsakhurdia's supporters to march on the capital

Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...

. The rebellion was, however, defeated and the ex-president died in unclear circumstances on December 31, 1993. Eliava was arrested, but granted his

amnesty Amnesty (from the Ancient Greek ἀμνηστία, ''amnestia'', "forgetfulness, passing over") is defined as "A pardon extended by the government to a group or class of people, usually for a political offense; the act of a sovereign power offici ...

in a few months, and joined the reconstructed armed forces of Georgia retaining the rank of colonel. On October 18–19, he organized a revolt at

and marched on the city of

Kutaisi Kutaisi (, ka, ქუთაისი ) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the third-most populous city in Georgia, traditionally, second in importance, after the capital city of Tbilisi. Situated west of Tbilis ...

. The mutiny collapsed, however, and Eliava and his 30 supporters hid out in the

Mingrelia Mingrelia ( ka, სამეგრელო, tr; xmf, სამარგალო, samargalo; ab, Агырны, Agirni) is a historic province in the western part of Georgia, formerly known as Odishi. It is primarily inhabited by the Mingrelian ...

n forests in western Georgia. Later, he demanded the resignation of President Shevardnadze. Despite the Georgian government claimed he was involved in organized crime, smuggling and

Georgian mafia The Georgian mafia ( ka, ქართული მაფია, tr) is regarded as one of the biggest, most powerful and influential criminal networks in Europe, which has produced the largest number of "thieves in law" in all former USSR countries ...

activities, no serious measures were undertaken to detain him. Subsequently, he was granted another amnesty in 2000. However, he was arrested in the town of

Zestaponi Zestafoni or Zestaponi ( ka, ზესტაფონი, tr, ) is the administrative center of Zestafoni District in Western Georgia. Zestafoni is the center of an ancient, historical part of Georgia – Margveti, which is a part of Imereti ...

, on July 9, 2000, and, according to an official version, shot to death when trying to take a policeman hostage.

References

Sobaka Dossier: Colonel Akaki Eliava
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eliava, Akaki 1956 births 2000 deaths People from Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Mingrelians Military personnel from Georgia (country)

See also

References