102:
563:. The Georgian opposition had strongly criticised Shevardnadze for failing to resolve the problem of separatism in the country, including what they saw as the lack of control which Tbilisi had over Ajaria. Not surprisingly, Abashidze saw this as a threat to his position and the continued semi-independence of Ajaria, and denounced the downfall of Shevardnadze as a "coup". He declared a state of emergency in Ajaria and sought Russian support in the event of an open conflict. However, he failed to attract much support from Russia and came under intense pressure from the
377:
25:
471:. He worked as a teacher and economist for a period before joining Georgia's regional public service. He was the director of several technical service institutes before being named a regional minister in Batumi, the capital of Ajaria, where he served as Minister of Community Service. He was later appointed the national First Deputy Minister of Community Service and moved to Tbilisi. This was, however, a relatively minor government post.
575:
guards. Abashidze accused
Saakashvili of leading a military convoy into the republic with the aim of overthrowing him, and declared a state of emergency in Ajaria and a mobilization of armed formations. In response, Saakashvili issued a one-day ultimatum to Abashidze to accept central authority and disband the Ajarian paramilitary forces. The government also closed transit routes into and out of Ajaria.
578:
Amid high tension and widespread public demonstrations, foreign governments and international organisations appealed to both sides to exercise restraint and resolve their differences peacefully. Abashidze resigned as leader of Ajaria on 5 May 2004, when
Special Forces entered the region and Adjarian
574:
This relationship soon foundered after
Saakashvili vowed to restore central authority over Georgia's separatist regions. In mid-March 2004, a motorcade carrying Saakashvili to planned political events in Ajaria ahead of the 28 March Georgian legislative elections was turned back by Ajarian border
512:
When
Georgia regained its independence on 9 April 1991, Abashidze secured his appointment as Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Ajaria. He was also appointed Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, a post that he retained in 1990–1992 and 1992–1995. He built an
610:
In August 2016, the Batumi City Court sentenced
Abashidze to a 15-year imprisonment in absentia for multiple charges, including misuse of office, embezzlement, organization of terrorist attacks in 2004 and the murder of his former deputy, Nodar Imnadze, on 30 April 1991.
491:
542:
He preferred to exercise influence from a distance, rather than attempting to bid for national power, and consistently adopted a policy of backing whoever seemed to offer the best deal for maintaining his rule over Ajaria. He reached an accommodation with
President
487:
547:, who appeared to have preferred to live with a semi-independent Ajaria rather than risk another civil war. His relations with Shevardnadze grew frosty at the end of the 1990s, as he and the government traded accusations of corruption and treason.
517:. When civil war broke out between pro- and anti-Gamsakhurdia forces in the winter of 1991–92 and again in the autumn of 1993, he kept both sides out of Ajaria, ensuring that the fighting did not spread to the republic.
513:
independent power base in Ajaria by steering a course between the
Tbilisi government and the opposition. He established his own army as a counterweight to the armed factions that supported and opposed President
474:
In spite of his descent from a renowned Muslim family that played a pivotal role in strengthening
Georgian and Islamic identities among the Muslims of Ajaria, Aslan Abashidze converted to
467:
for ten years but survived. Despite a difficult childhood, during the 1950s
Abashidze was able to obtain degrees in history and philosophy at Batumi University and in economics at
532:. He effectively turned Ajaria into a "free economic zone" with few restrictions on trade but with the customs duties and revenues going to his government rather than to Tbilisi.
715:
539:
or the Union for
Georgia's Rebirth. In 1998, he was elected President of Ajaria with 93% of the vote in what Russian observers regarded as a generally free and fair election.
586:
Abashidze's property in Georgia, as well as that of his close relatives, was frozen by the Georgian courts and eventually transferred to the state's ownership. According to
535:
Abashidze attracted some criticism for his heavy-handed rule, which was often described as feudal. He established his own political party in 1992, known variously as the
853:
410:. He served in this capacity from 18 August 1991 to 5 May 2004. He resigned under the pressure of the central Georgian government and mass opposition rallies during the
898:
858:
903:
738:
815:
172:
482:
883:
579:
paramilitary forces began to swap sides and disarm. The next day, after being granted assurances that he would not be extradited, Abashidze left for
878:
205:
821:
704:
848:
317:
619:
Aslan Abashidze is a widower, having been married to Maguli Gogitidze, a musician, with whom he had two children: a son and daughter.
528:, he did not attempt to seek independence for Ajaria and pursued what can best be described as a policy of "armed autonomy" after the
763:
827:
596:
893:
495:
628:
376:
117:
804:
908:
321:
529:
68:
46:
39:
101:
456:
709:
649:
536:
356:
351:
213:
863:
422:. On 22 January 2007, the Batumi city court found him guilty of misuse of office and embezzlement of
888:
873:
690:
468:
33:
868:
50:
271:
252:
843:
600:
8:
568:
544:
164:
142:
138:
809:
588:
514:
411:
428:
407:
393:
556:
452:
432:. He also faces a charge of murder of his former deputy, Nodar Imnadze, in 1991.
792:
673:
837:
604:
567:
to compromise. On 25 January 2004, Abashidze met the newly elected President
564:
555:
The forced resignation of Shevardnadze in November 2003 – widely dubbed the "
525:
460:
423:
335:
559:" – created a political crisis between Abashidze and the new government in
475:
325:
426:
98.2 million in state funds, and sentenced him to 15 years' imprisonment
764:"Ex-leader of Adjara sentenced to 15 years of jail in absentia • Tabula"
448:
340:
16:
Georgian politician; former leader of the Ajarian Autonomous Republic
693:, Berkeley Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies.
797:
593:
521:
444:
560:
550:
580:
571:
in Batumi and declared his intention to work with Saakashvili.
501:
419:
415:
403:
313:
464:
441:
689:
Berkeley Program in Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies., p. 12,
702:
455:
was a famous writer and member of the Parliament of the
816:"President Aslan Abashidze, visionary leader of Adjara"
739:"In Russia, Exile in Comfort for Leaders Like Assad"
507:
173:
Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara
674:
Ex-Adjarian Leader Sentenced to Prison in Absentia.
854:Eastern Orthodox Christians from Georgia (country)
402:; born 20 July 1938) is the former leader of the
899:Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples
835:
830:, The Dictionary of Georgian National Biography.
592:, as of December 2012, Abashidze was living in
859:Converts to Eastern Orthodoxy from Sunni Islam
685:George Sanikidze and Edward W. Walker (2004),
463:'s orders in 1937. His father was sent to the
397:
904:Heads of government who were later imprisoned
730:
583:, without a shot being fired in the region.
703:Intelligence Online staff (March 8, 2001).
318:Adjar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
100:
69:Learn how and when to remove this message
884:Democratic Union for Revival politicians
435:
32:This article includes a list of general
737:Kramer, Andrew E. (December 28, 2012).
687:Islam and Islamic Practices in Georgia.
459:between 1918 and 1921, but was shot on
836:
736:
879:Former Muslims from Georgia (country)
718:from the original on 16 November 2020
667:
629:Chairman of the Government of Adjara
130:18 August 1991 – 5 May 2004
118:Chairman of the Government of Adjara
18:
631:, first person to hold the position
551:Abashidze and the "Rose Revolution"
440:Abashidze was born into a renowned
13:
38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
920:
849:Christians from Georgia (country)
807:collected news and commentary at
786:
705:"The U.S. Connection in Caucasus"
508:Abashidze and independent Georgia
367:167 cm (5 ft 6 in)
676:Civil Georgia. January 22, 2007.
451:princely house. His grandfather
375:
23:
406:Autonomous Republic in western
756:
696:
679:
642:
520:However, unlike the rulers of
457:Democratic Republic of Georgia
1:
894:Heads of Government of Adjara
635:
185:15 March 1991 – 2001
357:Democratic Union for Revival
214:Democratic Union for Revival
7:
622:
537:Union of Democratic Revival
10:
925:
909:People of Adjarian descent
824:at the Georgia Parliament
614:
414:, and has since lived in
398:
383:
371:
363:
347:
331:
297:
292:
288:
277:
269:
258:
250:
240:
230:
219:
211:
199:
189:
178:
170:
158:
148:
134:
123:
115:
111:
99:
90:
83:
793:Profile: Aslan Abashidze
691:University of California
504:, Austria based Nordex.
469:Tbilisi State University
447:family, a branch of the
352:Round Table—Free Georgia
91:
710:Intelligence Newsletter
53:more precise citations.
481:Abashidze is close to
436:Early life and career
272:Parliament of Georgia
253:Parliament of Georgia
601:Odintsovsky District
530:fall of Gamsakhurdia
236:Position established
195:Position established
154:Position Established
569:Mikhail Saakashvili
545:Eduard Shevardnadze
500:, the owner of the
251:Deputy Chairman of
165:Levan Varshalomidze
143:Mikheil Saakashvili
139:Eduard Shevardnadze
864:People from Batumi
810:The New York Times
743:The New York Times
650:"View Red Notices"
589:The New York Times
515:Zviad Gamsakhurdia
412:2004 Adjara crisis
246:Position abolished
483:Grigory Luchansky
387:
386:
106:Abashidze in 2002
79:
78:
71:
916:
780:
779:
777:
775:
770:. 12 August 2016
760:
754:
753:
751:
749:
734:
728:
727:
725:
723:
700:
694:
683:
677:
671:
665:
664:
662:
660:
654:www.interpol.int
646:
499:
401:
400:
379:
311:
307:
305:
293:Personal details
282:
263:
243:
233:
224:
202:
192:
183:
161:
151:
128:
104:
94:
81:
80:
74:
67:
63:
60:
54:
49:this article by
40:inline citations
27:
26:
19:
924:
923:
919:
918:
917:
915:
914:
913:
889:Rose Revolution
874:Georgian exiles
834:
833:
828:Aslan Abashidze
822:Aslan Abashidze
805:Aslan Abashidze
789:
784:
783:
773:
771:
762:
761:
757:
747:
745:
735:
731:
721:
719:
701:
697:
684:
680:
672:
668:
658:
656:
648:
647:
643:
638:
625:
617:
557:Rose Revolution
553:
510:
485:
453:Memed Abashidze
438:
390:Aslan Abashidze
355:
348:Political party
339:
312:
309:
303:
301:
283:
278:
264:
259:
241:
231:
225:
220:
200:
190:
184:
179:
159:
149:
141:
129:
124:
107:
95:
92:
86:
85:Aslan Abashidze
75:
64:
58:
55:
45:Please help to
44:
28:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
922:
912:
911:
906:
901:
896:
891:
886:
881:
876:
871:
866:
861:
856:
851:
846:
832:
831:
825:
819:
813:
802:
795:, Steven Eke,
788:
787:External links
785:
782:
781:
755:
729:
695:
678:
666:
640:
639:
637:
634:
633:
632:
624:
621:
616:
613:
552:
549:
509:
506:
437:
434:
385:
384:
381:
380:
373:
369:
368:
365:
361:
360:
349:
345:
344:
333:
329:
328:
299:
295:
294:
290:
289:
286:
285:
275:
274:
267:
266:
256:
255:
248:
247:
244:
238:
237:
234:
228:
227:
217:
216:
209:
208:
203:
197:
196:
193:
187:
186:
176:
175:
168:
167:
162:
156:
155:
152:
146:
145:
136:
132:
131:
121:
120:
113:
112:
109:
108:
105:
97:
96:
88:
87:
84:
77:
76:
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
921:
910:
907:
905:
902:
900:
897:
895:
892:
890:
887:
885:
882:
880:
877:
875:
872:
870:
869:Living people
867:
865:
862:
860:
857:
855:
852:
850:
847:
845:
842:
841:
839:
829:
826:
823:
820:
817:
814:
812:
811:
806:
803:
800:
799:
794:
791:
790:
769:
765:
759:
744:
740:
733:
717:
713:
711:
706:
699:
692:
688:
682:
675:
670:
655:
651:
645:
641:
630:
627:
626:
620:
612:
608:
606:
605:Moscow Oblast
602:
598:
595:
591:
590:
584:
582:
576:
572:
570:
566:
565:United States
562:
558:
548:
546:
540:
538:
533:
531:
527:
526:South Ossetia
523:
518:
516:
505:
503:
497:
493:
489:
484:
479:
477:
472:
470:
466:
462:
461:Joseph Stalin
458:
454:
450:
446:
443:
433:
431:
430:
425:
421:
417:
413:
409:
405:
399:ასლან აბაშიძე
395:
391:
382:
378:
374:
370:
366:
362:
358:
353:
350:
346:
342:
337:
334:
330:
327:
323:
319:
315:
310:(age 86)
300:
296:
291:
287:
281:
276:
273:
268:
262:
257:
254:
249:
245:
239:
235:
229:
223:
218:
215:
210:
207:
204:
198:
194:
188:
182:
177:
174:
169:
166:
163:
157:
153:
147:
144:
140:
137:
133:
127:
122:
119:
114:
110:
103:
98:
93:ასლან აბაშიძე
89:
82:
73:
70:
62:
52:
48:
42:
41:
35:
30:
21:
20:
808:
801:, 4 May 2004
796:
772:. Retrieved
767:
758:
746:. Retrieved
742:
732:
720:. Retrieved
708:
698:
686:
681:
669:
657:. Retrieved
653:
644:
618:
609:
587:
585:
577:
573:
554:
541:
534:
519:
511:
480:
476:Christianity
473:
439:
427:
389:
388:
326:Soviet Union
322:Georgian SSR
308:20 July 1938
279:
260:
242:Succeeded by
221:
212:Chairman of
206:Antaz Kikava
201:Succeeded by
180:
171:Chairman of
160:Succeeded by
125:
65:
59:January 2010
56:
37:
844:1938 births
774:31 December
748:29 December
486: [
429:in absentia
359:(1992–2004)
354:(1990–1992)
338:(1938–1991)
332:Nationality
232:Preceded by
191:Preceded by
150:Preceded by
51:introducing
838:Categories
722:26 October
659:August 17,
636:References
304:1938-07-20
270:Member Of
34:references
712:(No. 401)
449:Abashidze
372:Signature
284:1990–2004
280:In office
265:1990–1995
261:In office
226:1992–2004
222:In office
181:In office
135:President
126:In office
798:BBC News
716:Archived
623:See also
594:Barvikha
522:Abkhazia
394:Georgian
341:Georgian
597:village
561:Tbilisi
445:Ajarian
408:Georgia
404:Ajarian
343:(1991–)
47:improve
818:, 2002
768:Tabula
615:Family
581:Moscow
502:Vienna
442:Muslim
420:Russia
416:Moscow
396::
364:Height
336:Soviet
314:Batumi
36:, but
498:]
465:Gulag
776:2017
750:2012
724:2021
661:2023
524:and
298:Born
116:1st
603:of
599:in
424:GEL
840::
766:.
741:.
714:.
707:.
652:.
607:.
496:de
494:;
492:uk
490:;
488:ru
478:.
418:,
324:,
320:,
316:,
306:)
778:.
752:.
726:.
663:.
392:(
302:(
72:)
66:(
61:)
57:(
43:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_(cropped).jpg)
.svg)