Mirab Boris-ipa Kishmaria ( ab, Мираб Борис-иҧа Кишьмариа, ka, მერაბ ქიშმარია, russian: Мира́б Бори́сович Кишма́рия)
was an Abkhaz politician and army general who served as the
Minister of Defence
A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...
of the disputed
Republic of Abkhazia
Abkhazia, ka, აფხაზეთი, tr, , xmf, აბჟუა, abzhua, or ( or ), officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, recognised by most countries as part of Georgia, which vi ...
from 2015 until 2020.
Early life and career
Mirab Kishmaria was born 3 August 1961 in
Ochamchire
Ochamchire or Ochamchira ( ka, ოჩამჩირე, ; ab, Очамчыра, ''Ochamchyra''; russian: Очамчира, ''Ochamchira'') is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast of Abkhazia, Georgia, and a centre of an eponymous district.
Acc ...
in what was then the
. 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
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
. During the
1992–1993 War in Abkhazia, Kishmaria was commander of the eastern front of the Abkhazian army, in the
Ochamchire district.
Political career
In 2002, Kishmaria became co-chairman of the influential veteran movement
Amtsakhara, together with
Vladimir Nachach Vladimir Emin-ipa Nachach ( ab, Владимир Емин-иҧа Начач; 22 August 1940 – 8 February 2011) was an Abkhazian Jurist, Major-General and politician.
Early life
Nachach was born on 22 August 1940 in Lower Eshera, Abkhazia. In ...
.
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.
Family
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.
Sources
*
References
1961 births
Abkhaz military personnel
Ministers for Defence of Abkhazia
Living people
Candidates in the 2014 Abkhazian presidential election
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