The head of the International Abkhaz-Abazin Association, professor Taras Shamba takes a position of People’s President of Abkhazia. It is a life appointment. 15 years ago most respectable social activists of Abkhazia decided that it should be the most reliable and authorized Abkhazian. The People’s President of Abkhazia Taras Shamba and “common” President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh met often for discussion of the republic problems. Once the ambassador of Abkhazia in Moscow Igor Akhba told me at Shamba’s office in Moscow: “There should be a memorial tablet.” I thought, he wanted to express his gratitude to the host of the office, but Abkha said: “Before the official recognition of independence of Abkhazia by Moscow here the elite of our republic gathered, President Bagapsh visited it many times.”
On the day of Bagapsh’s death I asked Shamba to tell about the second president of Abkhazia.
- I witnessed his state, political and social work development. It was a really reliable person. He had never behaved dishonestly. He always met his duties. That’s why I treated him cordially and sincerely. I appreciated our good relations very much. Bagapsh created right political situation in Abkhazia. He established such relations with neighbor republics and peoples, that Russia was able to be first to recognize independence of Abkhazia. His death is a tragic loss.
- What was his inner political position? Only 6-7 years ago Abkhazia was torn by political forces, for example, we can remember the elections of 2005…
- There was a period in Abkhazia’s history when common political disputes led to confrontation and contradictions. He had to balance between different political forces. When he was elected the president, he tried to establish relations within the republic in such a way that these contradictions wouldn’t lead to antagonism. He was managed to communicate with any side – both with governmental officials and the opposition.
Oleg Kushaty. Exclusively to VK.
