The State Security Service of Abkhazia is the principal security and intelligence agency of Abkhazia.
History
On 27 November 1991, the Supreme Soviet of Abkhazia decreed to abolish the Abkhazian KGB and to establish the State Security Service.[1] On 4 December 1992, the Supreme Soviet shortened its name to Security Service of Abkhazia.[2]
On 5 May 1997, President Vladislav Ardzinba decreed to rename the Service back to State Security Service of Abkhazia.[2]
After a bomb attack on 13 December 1999 in Sukhumi targeting government officials, Ardzinba dismissed Astamur Tarba and replaced him with First Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee Raul Khajimba.[6] On 18 June 2001, Khajimba also became First Vice Premier,[7] and on 1 November he was replaced as State Security Service Head by Interior Minister Zurab Agumava.[8][9]
On 2 April 2003, Agumava was replaced by Advisor to the President on Military Matters Givi Agrba.[10]
Agrba handed in his resignation on 15 June 2004 along with Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba and First Vice Premier Astamur Tarba following the murder of opposition politician Garri Aiba.[11] Agrba's resignation was accepted by Ardzinba on 7 July and he was replaced by Mikhail Tarba.[12]
After the May 2014 Revolution and Ankvab's forced resignation, Bzhania became the candidate representing the outgoing government in the August 2014 Presidential election. After his loss to opposition candidate Raul Khajimba, he was replaced as Security Service Head by his deputy (and head of the Border Guard) Zurab Margania on 29 September.[14]