Born March 4, 1949 in Sukhumi.
Graduated from the Georgian Institute of Subtropical Farming receiving a degree in agronomy.
1972 - Head of the agronomy section of the Moscow volatile oils state farm, instructor of the Abkhazian Regional Committee of the Young Communist League (Komsomol).
1978 - Head of the information sector at the Central Committee of the Georgian Young Communist League (Komsomol); head of the working and rural youth department at the Central Committee of the Georgian Young Communist League (Komsomol).
1980 - First Secretary of the Abkhazian Regional Committee of the Georgian Young Communist League (Komsomol).
1982 - First Secretary of the Ochamchira District Committee of the Georgian Communist Party.
1992 - First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Government) of the Abkhazian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
1993 - First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Government) of the Republic of Abkhazia.
1995-1997 - First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia.
1997-1999 - Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia.
2000 - General Director of the State Company Chernomorenergo.
In August 2004, nominated for President of the Republic of Abkhazia by the United Abkhazia public-political movement and supported by the Amtsakhara war veterans movement.
January 12, 2005 - Elected President of the Republic of Abkhazia.
February 12, 2005 - Inaugurated as President of the Republic of Abkhazia.
President of the Abkhazian Basketball Federation.
Hobby: Hunting.
Is married with two children.