Ruslan Abashidze

Ruslan Abashidze

Ruslan Abashidze(Georgian:რუსლან აბაშიძე;born 29 October 1971) is aGeorgiandiplomat and politician. On May 1, 2019, he was elected the head of government of theAutonomous Republic of Abkhazia,which sits in exile in the Georgian capital ofTbilisidue to thearmed conflictinAbkhazia.

Born inGagra,Abkhaz ASSR,Georgian SSR,Abashidze served as DeputyState Minister for Reintegrationfrom 2006 to 2009 and Ambassador of Georgia to Estonia from 2009 to 2013. In January 2019, he was appointed Deputy State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality. On May 1, 2019, he succeededJemal Gamakhariaas the head of Abkhazia's government-in-exile. In his new capacity, Abashidze also became member of the Georgian delegation in theGeneva International Discussions,the diplomatic venue established in the aftermath of theRusso–Georgian Warof August 2008.