Abkhaz Vice-Premier Appointed

President of breakaway Abkhazia appointed Leonid Lakerbaya as the Vice-Premier of the unrecognized republic, Regnum news agency reported on February 24.

Leonid Lakerbaya is one of the co-chairman of the influential political movement Aitaira (the Revival). He was the acting Prime Minister of Abkhazia in 1992-93 and the Deputy Prime Minister following that.  In 1995 he held the position of Abkhaz Foreign Minister for a brief period.

Leonid Lakerbaya is a close ally of the Prime Minister of breakaway region Alexander Ankvab. The latter is also the other co-chairman of Aitaira.