Raul Khadjimba

Raul Khadjimba

Raul Hajimba (Abkhaz: Рауль Ҳаџьымба; born 1958) is a politician from Abkhazia, leading the oppositional Forum of the National Unity of Abkhazia. Until 28 May 2009 Khajimba served as Vice President following the power-sharing agreement reached with current president Sergei Bagapsh to end the crisis that followed the October 2004 presidential election. Even though Khajimba had joined the government, the parties that had supported him did not and he was seen as the informal head of the opposition. During the second half of May 2009 a group of opposition parties expressed sharp criticism of government policy and on 28 May Khajimba resigned, stating that he shared the criticism. Khajimba again competed with Bagapsh for the Presidency in the 12 December 2009 election, which he lost in the first round with a 15,32% second place.

Before becoming Vice President Khajimba had served as Prime Minister and as Minister of Defence of Abkhazia under Abkhazia's first President Vladislav Ardzinba.