Link: The Messenger #129 (1396) - Abkhaz Leader Survives Assassination Attempt Once Again.
Abkhaz Leader Survives Assassination Attempt Once Again
By Ana DatiashviliEarly in the morning on July 9, unidentified gunmen attacked de facto Abkhazian prime minister Aleksander Ankvab near the village of Lykhny, as the separatist leader was heading by jeep to the capital of Sokhumi.
"On his way to Sokhumi, the prime minister came under fire in his jeep in Gudauta," de facto Abkhaz interior minister Otar Khetsiya announced. According to Khetsiya, the jeep's engine caught fire in the attack. (((Everybody is "de facto" because Abkhazia is one of those Caucasian de-facto failed breakaway states.)))
Ankvab's car was reportedly hit by a grenade launcher, lightly wounding the de facto prime minister and his driver. Both men were in good health after being treated in hospital.
"Probably, as early as today, I can be back at my office," Ankvab said the day of the attack. He declined to speculate on why he was targeted.
This is not the first attempt on Ankvab's life. The Abkhaz leader has survived at least three previous attacks, (((you have to like the cavalier way these worthies don't even bother to keep count)))) the first coming just two weeks after being appointed prime minister of the de facto republic in February 2005. In that incident, a group of gunmen opened fire on Ankvab's convoy outside the capital.
In another attack soon after, gunmen injured Ankvab's driver when they again fired on his car.
The most recent incident – whether it was an assassination attempt is in question – took place June 20 to west of Sokhumi, near Novy Afon village. A bomb, allegedly rigged with a remote-controlled detonator, went off prematurely....
There is wide speculation that Ankvab is targeted by forces loyal to de facto vice president Raul Khajimba, a Bagapsh rival who came to power in a Russian-brokered power-sharing arrangement after the 2004 elections. In the stormy world of Abkhazian political intrigue, however, Ankvab could well have more than one man who wants him dead.
"I think all pro-Russian forces, opposition parties, and people with Khajimba-who is not an effective official any more-want Ankvab's death. He's an impressive politician and Bagapsh's friend, and few want him in this position," expert on Abkhazian issues Paata Davitaia told The Messenger.
(((Given that all that bombing and gunfire hasn't managed to dent him, I hope this guy is really careful of what he drinks.)))
