Adgur Kharazia

Adgur Kharaziya
Адгəыр Ҳаразиа
ადგურ ხარაზია
Mayor of Sukhumi
In office
22 October 2014 – 21 October 2019
PresidentRaul Khajimba
Preceded byAlias Labakhua
Succeeded byKan Kvarchia (acting)
In office
5 November 2004 – 16 February 2005
PresidentVladislav Ardzinba
Preceded byLeonid Lolua
Succeeded byAstamur Adleiba

Adgur Rafet-ipa Kharaziya (Abkhaz: Адгəыр Рафеҭ-иԥа Ҳаразиа; Georgian: ადგურ ხარაზია) is an Abkhazian politician who served as the mayor of Sukhumi from 2014 to 2019.[1] He was also the Minister of Agriculture of Abkhazia and the Vice Speaker of the People's Assembly.

In 2024, Kharazia, having been elected as an MP in 2022, opened fire in the parliament building, killing one MP, Vakhtang Golandzia and wounding another one.

Acting mayor of Sukhumi (first time)

Adgur Kharaziya was head of the Gulripshi District assembly before he was appointed acting mayor of Sukhumi by president Vladislav Ardzinba on 5 November 2004, in the heated aftermath of the 2004 presidential election, succeeding Leonid Lolua. During his first speech he called upon the two leading candidates, Sergei Bagapsh and Raul Khadjimba, to both withdraw.[2]

On 16 February 2005, newly elected President Bagapsh replaced Kharaziya with Astamur Adleiba as mayor of Sukhumi.

Member of the People's Assembly of Abkhazia

In the 2007 parliamentary elections Adgur Kharaziya successfully stood as candidate in the Dranda precinct No. 24, winning a majority in the first round. He formed part of the opposition.[3] During the assembly's first meeting after the election Kharaziya was nominated for the position of speaker by fellow MP Rita Lolua but lost to Nugzar Ashuba.[4] On 27 July 2007, Kharaziya took part in a round table on free speech organised by journalists that called upon the government to end what it called the pursuit of independent and opposition media.[5]

Mayor of Sukhumi (second time)

Following the May 2014 Revolution and the election of Raul Khajimba, Kharaziya was again appointed acting mayor of Sukhumi on 22 October 2014.[6] On 4 April 2015, he won the by-election to the city council in constituency no. 3 unopposed,[7] and was confirmed as mayor on 4 May.[8]

2024 shooting

Main article: 2024 Parliament of Abkhazia shooting

On 19 December 2024, fellow lawmaker Vakhtang Golandzia was killed and another one, Kan Kvarchia, was injured in a shooting inside the Abhkaz parliament building. Kharazia was identified as the suspect in the shooting.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Адгур Харазия: я много ночей не спал, думая о проблемах граждан". apsadgil.info. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  2. ^ "MAYOR SUGGESTS ABKHAZ PRESIDENTIAL RIVALS SHOULD WITHDRAW". RFE/RL. 10 November 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  3. ^ "В Абхазии возросло влияние турецкого лобби". Новый Регион. 1 April 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  4. ^ "Нугзар Ашуба вновь избран спикером парламента". Апсныпресс. 3 April 2007. Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  5. ^ "Abkhazian Journalists Call Upon De Facto Government to Stop Pursuing Media". humanrights.ge. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  6. ^ "Адгур Харазия назначен исполняющим обязанности главы администрации г. Сухум". Apsnypress. 22 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Итоги выборов". alhra.org. Избирательная комиссия по выборам в органы местного самоуправления г.Сухум. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  8. ^ Khajimba, Raul. "УКАЗ О главе администрации города Сухум" (PDF). presidentofabkhazia.org. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  9. ^ "Lawmaker shot dead in parliament in breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia". Al Jazeera Media Network. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
Preceded by acting Mayor of Sukhumi
2004–2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Mayor of Sukhumi
2014–Present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent