# Government of President Ardzinba

The Government of President Vladislav Ardzinba was the first Government of the Republic of Abkhazia.
| President | Vladislav Ardzinba 26 November 1994 - 12 February 2005 | Vladislav Ardzinba 26 November 1994 - 12 February 2005 | Vladislav Ardzinba 26 November 1994 - 12 February 2005 | Vladislav Ardzinba 26 November 1994 - 12 February 2005 | Vladislav Ardzinba 26 November 1994 - 12 February 2005 | Vladislav Ardzinba 26 November 1994 - 12 February 2005 | Vladislav Ardzinba 26 November 1994 - 12 February 2005 | Vladislav Ardzinba 26 November 1994 - 12 February 2005 | Vladislav Ardzinba 26 November 1994 - 12 February 2005 | Vladislav Ardzinba 26 November 1994 - 12 February 2005 | Vladislav Ardzinba 26 November 1994 - 12 February 2005 |
| Vice-President | Valeri Arshba 5 January 1995 - 12 February 2005 | Valeri Arshba 5 January 1995 - 12 February 2005 | Valeri Arshba 5 January 1995 - 12 February 2005 | Valeri Arshba 5 January 1995 - 12 February 2005 | Valeri Arshba 5 January 1995 - 12 February 2005 | Valeri Arshba 5 January 1995 - 12 February 2005 | Valeri Arshba 5 January 1995 - 12 February 2005 | Valeri Arshba 5 January 1995 - 12 February 2005 | Valeri Arshba 5 January 1995 - 12 February 2005 | Valeri Arshba 5 January 1995 - 12 February 2005 | Valeri Arshba 5 January 1995 - 12 February 2005 |
| Head of the Presidential Administration | Miron Agrba ? - 15 December 2003 | Miron Agrba ? - 15 December 2003 | Miron Agrba ? - 15 December 2003 | Miron Agrba ? - 15 December 2003 | Miron Agrba ? - 15 December 2003 | Miron Agrba ? - 15 December 2003 | Miron Agrba ? - 15 December 2003 | Miron Agrba ? - 15 December 2003 | Gennady Gagulia 15 December 2003 - 18 June 2004 | Emma Avidzba ? - 15 February 2005 | Emma Avidzba ? - 15 February 2005 |
| Secretary of the Security Council | ? | ? | ? | ? | Astamur Tarba 2 February 2000 - 1 May 2003 | Astamur Tarba 2 February 2000 - 1 May 2003 | Astamur Tarba 2 February 2000 - 1 May 2003 | Astamur Tarba 2 February 2000 - 1 May 2003 | Almasbei Kchach 6 June 2003 - 17 February 2005 | Almasbei Kchach 6 June 2003 - 17 February 2005 | Almasbei Kchach 6 June 2003 - 17 February 2005 |
| Head of the State Security Service | Astamur Tarba 1995 - December 1999 | Astamur Tarba 1995 - December 1999 | Astamur Tarba 1995 - December 1999 | Astamur Tarba 1995 - December 1999 | Raul Khajimba December 1999 - 1 November 2001 | Raul Khajimba December 1999 - 1 November 2001 | Zurab Agumava 1 November 2001 - 2 April 2003 | Zurab Agumava 1 November 2001 - 2 April 2003 | Givi Agrba 2 April 2003 - 7 July 2004 | Mikhail Tarba 7 July 2004 - 28 February 2005 | Mikhail Tarba 7 July 2004 - 28 February 2005 |
| Cabinet: ||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Gennady Gagulia January 1995 - 24 April 1997 | Gennady Gagulia January 1995 - 24 April 1997 | Sergei Bagapsh 29 April 1997 - December 1999 | Sergei Bagapsh 29 April 1997 - December 1999 | Viacheslav Tsugba 20 December 1999 - 30 May 2001 | Anri Jergenia 7 June 2001 - 29 November 2002 | Anri Jergenia 7 June 2001 - 29 November 2002 | Gennady Gagulia 29 November 2002 - 8 April 2003 | Raul Khajimba 22 April 2003 - 6 October 2004 | Raul Khajimba 22 April 2003 - 6 October 2004 | Nodar Khashba 6 October 2004 - 14 February 2005 |
| First Vice Premiers | Sergei Bagapsh 1995-1997 | Sergei Bagapsh 1995-1997 | Konstantin Ozgan 1997 - 1999 | Konstantin Ozgan 1997 - 1999 | Beslan Kubrava 1999 - 18 June 2001 | Raul Khajimba 18 June 2001 - 22 April 2003 | Raul Khajimba 18 June 2001 - 22 April 2003 | Raul Khajimba 18 June 2001 - 22 April 2003 | Astamur Tarba 1 May 2003 - 2004 | Astamur Tarba 1 May 2003 - 2004 | |
| First Vice Premiers | | | Viacheslav Tsugba May 1997 - April 1998 | | | | | Ruslan Ardzinba 9 December 2002 - 1 May 2003 | | | |
| Vice Premiers | Yuri Voronov 18 February - 11 September 1995 | Albert Topolyan 1996 - 1999 | Albert Topolyan 1996 - 1999 | Albert Topolyan 1996 - 1999 | Yuri Aqaba 2 February 2000 - 2001 | Beslan Kubrava ? - August 2001 - 9 December 2002 | Beslan Kubrava ? - August 2001 - 9 December 2002 | | Emma Tania 1 May 2003 - 2004 | Emma Tania 1 May 2003 - 2004 | Viktor Khilchevski 14 December 2004 - 24 February 2005 |
| Vice Premiers | ? | ? | Nuri Gezerdaa 1997 - June 2001 - ? | Nuri Gezerdaa 1997 - June 2001 - ? | Nuri Gezerdaa 1997 - June 2001 - ? | Vladimir Zantaria 19 July 2001 - 14 December 2004 | Vladimir Zantaria 19 July 2001 - 14 December 2004 | Vladimir Zantaria 19 July 2001 - 14 December 2004 | Vladimir Zantaria 19 July 2001 - 14 December 2004 | Vladimir Zantaria 19 July 2001 - 14 December 2004 | Sergei Shamba 14 December 2004 - 24 February 2005 |
| Vice Premiers | Vladimir Mikanba 1992 - 1999 | Vladimir Mikanba 1992 - 1999 | Vladimir Mikanba 1992 - 1999 | Vladimir Mikanba 1992 - 1999 | | | | | | | |
| Chief of the Cabinet Office | Viacheslav Tsugba ? - September 1996 | Grigori Enik ? - April 1998 | Grigori Enik ? - April 1998 | Viacheslav Tsugba 1998? - 1999? | Konstantin Tuzhba ? - September 2000 - 18 December 2002 | Konstantin Tuzhba ? - September 2000 - 18 December 2002 | Konstantin Tuzhba ? - September 2000 - 18 December 2002 | Beslan Kubrava 18 December 2002 - 8 May 2003 | Oleg Botsiev 8 May 2003 - 2005 | Oleg Botsiev 8 May 2003 - 2005 | Oleg Botsiev 8 May 2003 - 2005 |
| Cabinet Ministers: ||||||||||||
| Defence | Sultan Sosnaliyev 25 April 1993 - 2 June 1996 | Vladimir Mikanba 2 June 1996 - 16 May 2002 | Vladimir Mikanba 2 June 1996 - 16 May 2002 | Vladimir Mikanba 2 June 1996 - 16 May 2002 | Vladimir Mikanba 2 June 1996 - 16 May 2002 | Vladimir Mikanba 2 June 1996 - 16 May 2002 | Raul Khajimba 16 May 2002 - 22 April 2003 | Raul Khajimba 16 May 2002 - 22 April 2003 | Viacheslav Eshba 5 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 | Viacheslav Eshba 5 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 | Viacheslav Eshba 5 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 |
| Internal Affairs | Givi Agrba 1993 - 2 June 1996 | Almasbei Kchach 2 June 1996 - 2 July 2001 | Almasbei Kchach 2 June 1996 - 2 July 2001 | Almasbei Kchach 2 June 1996 - 2 July 2001 | Almasbei Kchach 2 June 1996 - 2 July 2001 | Zurab Agumava 2 July - 1 November 2001 | Almasbei Kchach 1 November 2001 - 8 May 2003 | Almasbei Kchach 1 November 2001 - 8 May 2003 | Abesalom Beia 8 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 | Abesalom Beia 8 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 | Abesalom Beia 8 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 |
| Foreign Affairs | Leonid Lakerbaia 29 June 1995 - 31 July 1996 | Konstantin Ozgan 31 July 1996 - April 1997 | Sergei Shamba 7 May 1997 - 18 June 2004 | Sergei Shamba 7 May 1997 - 18 June 2004 | Sergei Shamba 7 May 1997 - 18 June 2004 | Sergei Shamba 7 May 1997 - 18 June 2004 | Sergei Shamba 7 May 1997 - 18 June 2004 | Sergei Shamba 7 May 1997 - 18 June 2004 | Gueorgui Otyrba 18 June - 28 July 2004 | Igor Akhba 28 July - 14 December 2004 | Sergei Shamba 14 December 2004 - 21 March 2005 |
| Finance | Lili Bganba 21 December 1993 – 24 February 2005 | Lili Bganba 21 December 1993 – 24 February 2005 | Lili Bganba 21 December 1993 – 24 February 2005 | Lili Bganba 21 December 1993 – 24 February 2005 | Lili Bganba 21 December 1993 – 24 February 2005 | Lili Bganba 21 December 1993 – 24 February 2005 | Lili Bganba 21 December 1993 – 24 February 2005 | Lili Bganba 21 December 1993 – 24 February 2005 | Lili Bganba 21 December 1993 – 24 February 2005 | Lili Bganba 21 December 1993 – 24 February 2005 | Lili Bganba 21 December 1993 – 24 February 2005 |
| Economy since 9 December 2002: Economy and Foreign Economic Relations | Konstantin Tuzhba 1995 - 1998 | Konstantin Tuzhba 1995 - 1998 | Konstantin Ozgan 1998 - 16 April 1998 | Beslan Kubrava 16 April 1998 - December 1999 | Adgur Lushba December 1999 - 28 May 2002 | Adgur Lushba December 1999 - 28 May 2002 | Beslan Kubrava 28 May 2002 - 9 December 2002 | Ruslan Ardzinba 9 December 2002 - 8 May 2003 | Konstantin Tuzhba 8 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 | Konstantin Tuzhba 8 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 | Konstantin Tuzhba 8 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 |
| Agriculture since 17 September 2001: Agriculture and Food | Yuri Aqaba 1995 - 2 February 2000 | Yuri Aqaba 1995 - 2 February 2000 | Yuri Aqaba 1995 - 2 February 2000 | Yuri Aqaba 1995 - 2 February 2000 | Anatoli Sabua 2 February 2000 - 19 June 2001 | Jemal Eshba 19 June 2001 - 18 December 2002 | Jemal Eshba 19 June 2001 - 18 December 2002 | Adgur Kharazia 18 December 2002 - 8 May 2003 | Vitali Smyr 8 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 | Vitali Smyr 8 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 | Vitali Smyr 8 May 2003 - 25 February 2005 |
| Justice | Raul Jinjolia 1994 - 1996 | Batal Tabagua September 1995 - 18 December 2002 | Batal Tabagua September 1995 - 18 December 2002 | Batal Tabagua September 1995 - 18 December 2002 | Batal Tabagua September 1995 - 18 December 2002 | Batal Tabagua September 1995 - 18 December 2002 | Batal Tabagua September 1995 - 18 December 2002 | Tengiz Lakerbaia 18 December 2002 – 15 December 2004 | Tengiz Lakerbaia 18 December 2002 – 15 December 2004 | Tengiz Lakerbaia 18 December 2002 – 15 December 2004 | Gennadi Stepanov 15 December 2004 - 7 April 2005 |
| Health since 9 December 2002: Health and Social Security | Appolon Gurgulia 1994 - 1999 | Appolon Gurgulia 1994 - 1999 | Appolon Gurgulia 1994 - 1999 | Appolon Gurgulia 1994 - 1999 | Lyudmila Avidzba December 1999 – 25 February 2005 | Lyudmila Avidzba December 1999 – 25 February 2005 | Lyudmila Avidzba December 1999 – 25 February 2005 | Lyudmila Avidzba December 1999 – 25 February 2005 | Lyudmila Avidzba December 1999 – 25 February 2005 | Lyudmila Avidzba December 1999 – 25 February 2005 | Lyudmila Avidzba December 1999 – 25 February 2005 |
| Education since 2002: General, Secondary and Higher Education | Beslan Dbar January 1995 – 18 December 2002 | Beslan Dbar January 1995 – 18 December 2002 | Beslan Dbar January 1995 – 18 December 2002 | Beslan Dbar January 1995 – 18 December 2002 | Beslan Dbar January 1995 – 18 December 2002 | Beslan Dbar January 1995 – 18 December 2002 | Beslan Dbar January 1995 – 18 December 2002 | Aleko Gvaramia 18 December 2002 - 13 November 2003 | Aleko Gvaramia 18 December 2002 - 13 November 2003 | Tali Japua 13 November 2003 - 1 February 2005 | Natalya Kayun 1 February 2005 - 10 March 2005 |
| Culture | Kesou Khagba 1995 - 1999 | Kesou Khagba 1995 - 1999 | Kesou Khagba 1995 - 1999 | Kesou Khagba 1995 - 1999 | Vladimir Zantaria 1999 - 19 July 2001 | Leonid Enik 2001 - 10 March 2005 | Leonid Enik 2001 - 10 March 2005 | Leonid Enik 2001 - 10 March 2005 | Leonid Enik 2001 - 10 March 2005 | Leonid Enik 2001 - 10 March 2005 | Leonid Enik 2001 - 10 March 2005 |
| Labour and Social Security | Nikolai Mistokopulo ? - February 1998 - ? | Nikolai Mistokopulo ? - February 1998 - ? | Nikolai Mistokopulo ? - February 1998 - ? | Nikolai Mistokopulo ? - February 1998 - ? | Oleg Botsiev December 1999 - 9 December 2002 | Oleg Botsiev December 1999 - 9 December 2002 | Oleg Botsiev December 1999 - 9 December 2002 | | | | |
| Taxes and Fees | | | | | | | | Adgur Lushba 18 December 2002 - 25 February 2005 | Adgur Lushba 18 December 2002 - 25 February 2005 | Adgur Lushba 18 December 2002 - 25 February 2005 | Adgur Lushba 18 December 2002 - 25 February 2005 |
| Youth, Sports, Resorts and Tourism | | | | | | Valeri Bartsits 2001 - 17 September 2001 | Albert Topolyan 17 September 2001 - 18 December 2002 | Astamur Adleiba 18 December 2002 - 14 December 2004 | Astamur Adleiba 18 December 2002 - 14 December 2004 | Astamur Adleiba 18 December 2002 - 14 December 2004 | |
| Emergency Situations | | | | | | | | | | | Sergei Matosyan 14 December 2004 - 24 February 2005 |
| Chairmen of State Committees: ||||||||||||
| Customs | Aleksandr Aiba 1995 - 1997 | Aleksandr Aiba 1995 - 1997 | Aslan Kobakhia 1997 -18 December 2002 | Aslan Kobakhia 1997 -18 December 2002 | Aslan Kobakhia 1997 -18 December 2002 | Aslan Kobakhia 1997 -18 December 2002 | Aslan Kobakhia 1997 -18 December 2002 | Grigori Enik 18 December 2002 - 14 December 2004 | Grigori Enik 18 December 2002 - 14 December 2004 | Grigori Enik 18 December 2002 - 14 December 2004 | Lavrik Mikvabia 14 December 2004 - 24 February 2005 |
| Property Management and Privatisation | | | | Tamaz Gogia March 1998 - 18 December 2002 | Tamaz Gogia March 1998 - 18 December 2002 | Tamaz Gogia March 1998 - 18 December 2002 | Tamaz Gogia March 1998 - 18 December 2002 | Astamur Appba 18 December 2002 - May 2004 - ? | Astamur Appba 18 December 2002 - May 2004 - ? | Astamur Appba 18 December 2002 - May 2004 - ? | Aleksandr Chengelia 14 December 2004 - 24 February 2005 |
| Foreign Economical Relations | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Ruslan Iazychba ? - August 2000 - 19 June 2001 - ? | Ruslan Iazychba ? - August 2000 - 19 June 2001 - ? | | | | |
| Relations with Compatriots since 1997: Repatriation | Fenia Avidzba 1995 - 1997 | Fenia Avidzba 1995 - 1997 | Givi Dopua 1997 - 2000 | Givi Dopua 1997 - 2000 | Apollon Shinkuba 2000 - 2001 | Givi Dopua 27 June 2001 - 2004 | Givi Dopua 27 June 2001 - 2004 | Givi Dopua 27 June 2001 - 2004 | Givi Dopua 27 June 2001 - 2004 | Givi Dopua 27 June 2001 - 2004 |
| Standards, Metrology and Certification | Nerses Nersesyan ? - June 2000 - ? | Nerses Nersesyan ? - June 2000 - ? | Nerses Nersesyan ? - June 2000 - ? | Nerses Nersesyan ? - June 2000 - ? | Nerses Nersesyan ? - June 2000 - ? | Elena Gunia 27 June 2001 - 24 February 2005 | Elena Gunia 27 June 2001 - 24 February 2005 | Elena Gunia 27 June 2001 - 24 February 2005 | Elena Gunia 27 June 2001 - 24 February 2005 | Elena Gunia 27 June 2001 - 24 February 2005 | Elena Gunia 27 June 2001 - 24 February 2005 |
| Youth Affairs and Sports | | | | | Valeri Bartsits ? - February 2000 - 29 June 2001 | Valeri Bartsits ? - February 2000 - 29 June 2001 | | | | | |
| Forest since December 2004: Forestry | | | | | | | | | | Eduard Jergenia 28 April 2004 - 24 February 2005 | Eduard Jergenia 28 April 2004 - 24 February 2005 |

## Formation

In February 1995, the Ministry for Energy was transformed into the state company Abkhazenergo, renamed to Chernomorenergo in June. The Ministry for Industry and the Ministry for Transport and Communication were also abolished.

## Changes

* On the night of 11 September 1995, Vice Premier Yuri Voronov was shot dead in front of his apartment.
* On 2 June 1996, President Ardzinba dismissed Interior Minister Givi Agrba for unsatisfactory work and Defence Minister Sultan Sosnaliyev for family reasons, and replaced them with, respectively, the head of his own security office Almasbei Kchach and Vice-Premier Vladimir Mikanba.
* On 24 April 1997, Prime Minister Gennady Gagulia resigned for health reasons. On 29 April, President Ardzinba appointed First Vice Premier Sergei Bagapsh as his successor. Bagapsh was replaced as First Vice-Premier by Foreign Minister Konstantin Ozgan, who was in turn replaced by Sergei Shamba on 30 April.
* In February 1998, Justice Minister Batal Tabagua was additionally appointed the representative of President Ardzinba to the People's Assembly. In August, Tabagua was instead appointed the Abkhazian representative to the peace negotiations with Georgia, replacing Tamaz Ketsba.
* In March 1998, President Ardzinba decreed the creation of the State Committee for State Property Management and Privatisation and appointed Tamaz Gogia as its Chairman.
* On 16 April, Konstantin Ozgan was replaced as Economy Minister by Beslan Kubrava, who had previously headed the State Tax Service.
* In April 1998, President Ardzinba signed a decree on the creation of the State Committee for Repatriation.
* In April 1998, President Ardzinba dismissed Viacheslav Tsugba as First Vice Premier, Grigori Enik as Head of the Cabinet Office as well as two other Vice Premiers.
* In May 1998, President Arzinba signed a decree reducing the number of Deputy Ministers in each department except the Interior and Defence to one.
* Ardzinba was re-elected unopposed in on 3 October 1999 and his re-inauguration was scheduled for 6 December.
* After a bomb attack on 13 December 1999 in Sukhumi targeting government officials, President Ardzinba dismissed Astamur Tarba as Security Service Chairman and replaced him with First Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee Raul Khajimba.
* On 2 February 2000, Iuri Aqaba was appointed Vice-Premier and succeeded as Agriculture Minister by Anatoli Sabua. Astamur Tarba was appointed Secretary of the Security Council.
* On 18 June 2001, Chairman of the State Security Service Raul Khajimba was appointed First Vice-Premier, succeeding Beslan Kubrava. On 19 June, the Head of the Cabinet Staff and the Chairmen of the State Committees for Customs, State Property Management and Foreign Economical Relations, and on 20 June, the Ministers for Defence, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Economy, Agriculture, Justice, Health, Education and Culture were re-appointed. On 27 June, Givi Dopua was appointed as Chairman for the State Committee for Repatriation, Elena Gunia as Chairman of the State Committee for Standards, Metrology and Certification, and outgoing Interior Minister Almasbei Kchach head of the presidential security detail. On 29 June, President Ardzinba approved the revised Cabinet structure, which included the new Ministry for Youth, Sports, Resorts and Tourism. On 2 July, Supreme Court Judge Zurab Agumava was appointed Minister of the Interior.
* On 19 July, Vladimir Zantaria was released as Culture Minister and appointed Vice-Premier.
* On 17 September, President Ardzinba signed a decree renaming the Ministry for Agriculture into the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and appointed Albert Topoloyan Minister for Youth, Sports, Resorts and Tourism, replacing acting minister Valeri Bartsits.
* On 1 November, First Vice Premier Raul Khajimba was released as Head of the State Security Service, a post which up until then he had still occupied. He was succeeded by Interior Minister Zurab Agumava, who in turn was succeeded by his predecessor Almasbei Kchach.
* On 16 May 2002, Raul Khajimba replaced Vladimir Mikanba as Defence Minister, while remaining First Vice-Premier.
* On 28 May 2002, President Ardzinba dismissed Konstantin Ozgan as Head of the Revenue Service due to his election as Deputy of the People's Assembly. He was replaced by Economy Minister Adgur Lushba, who was in turn replaced by Vice-Premier Beslan Kubrava (while remaining Vice-Premier).
* On 29 November 2002, Prime Minister Jergenia was fired by President Ardzinba, officially due to his failure to ensure fulfillment of budget targets and to prepare adequately for winter. However, for the first nine months of that year budget had been implemented fully and Jergenia's dismissal was widely seen as politically motivated, having been too openly ambitious about the presidency, and putting Russian above Abkhazian interests. Jergenia was replaced by the Head of the Commerce Chamber, former Prime Minister Gennady Gagulia. On 9 December, Ardzinba decreed the new structure of the cabinet. The State Committee for Foreign Economic Relations was merged into the Ministry for Economy, becoming the Ministry for Economy and Foreign Economic Relations. The Ministry for Labour and Social Security was merged into the Ministry for Health, becoming the Ministry for Health and Social Security. The State Tax Service was transformed into the Ministry for Taxes and Fees. That same day, Ardzinba re-appointed Khajimba as First Vice Premier and Defence Minister and Zantaria as Vice Premier, and he appointed Ruslan Ardzinba, previously deputy chairman of the State Committee for Foreign Economic Relations, as Minister for Economy and Foreign Economic Relations as well as First Vice Premier (alongside Khajimba). On 18 December, the remaining members of the cabinet were appointed. Outgoing Economy Minister and Vice Premier Beslan Kubrava succeeded Konstantin Tuzhba as Chief of the Cabinet Staff. Adgur Lushba, also a former Economy Minister, was appointed as the new Minister for Taxes and Fees. Gulripshi District Head Adgur Kharazia replaced Jemal Eshba as Minister for Agriculture and Food, Tengiz Lakerbaia Batal Tabagua as Minister for Justice, Astamur Adleiba Albert Topolyan as Minister for Youth, Sports, Resorts and Tourism and Astamur Appba Tamaz Gogia as Chairman of the State Committee for Property Management and Privatisation. Gagra District Head Grigori Enik succeeded Aslan Kobakhia as Head of the State Customs Committee and Abkhazian State University Rector Aleko Gvaramia succeeded Beslan Dbar as Minister for General, Secondary and Higher Education (while remaining Rector). On 26 December, Appba was succeeded as the President's Representative to the People's Assembly by Marina Pilia, who up to then had worked in the President's Administration.
* On 2 April 2003, Advisor to the President on Military Matters Givi Agrba was appointed Head of the State Security Service, replacing Zurab Agumava.
* In the evening of 7 April 2003, Gagulia's government filed for resignation. Early in the morning of that day, nine prisoners had escaped, four of which had been sentenced to death due to their involvement in the 2001 Kodori crisis. President Ardzinba initially refused to accept Gagulia's resignation, but was forced to agree on 8 April. Vice President Valery Arshba denied on 8 April that the government's resignation was due to the prison escape, and stated that instead it was caused by the opposition's plans to hold protest rallies on 10 April. On 22 April 2003, Raul Khajimba was appointed the new Prime Minister. On 1 May, Ardzinba agreed the new (mostly unchanged) cabinet structure. Secretary of the Security Council Astamur Tarba was appointed Khajimba's successor as First Vice Premier, and Vice-Chairman of the National Bank Emma Tania was appointed Vice Premier. On 5 May, Viacheslav Eshba was appointed Khajimba's successor as Defence Minister and some other ministers were re-appointed. On 8 May, several more appointments were made: Abesalom Beia succeeded Almasbei Kchach as Interior Minister, New Athos Mayor Vitali Smyr Adgur Kharazia as Agriculture Minister, Konstantin Tuzhba Ruslan Ardzinba as Economy Minister and Oleg Botsiev Beslan Kubrava as Chief of the Cabinet Staff. On 6 June, Almasbei Kchach was appointed Secretary of the Security Council.
* On 1 September 2003, Aleko Gvaramia handed his resignation as Education Minister. On 15 September, acting president Valery Arshba declared that he had not yet officially accepted Gvaramia's resignation. On 13 November, President Ardzinba officially granted Gvaramia's request and appointed Head of the State Fund for the Development of the Abkhaz language Tali Japua in his stead.
* On 15 December 2003, President Ardzinba replaced the head of the Presidential Administration Miron Agrba with Gennady Gagulia.
* On 9 January 2004, President Ardzinba decreed the creation of the State Committee for Forest. On 28 April, Ardzinba appointed Abkhazles head Eduard Jergenia as its Chairman.
* On 15 June 2004, Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba, First Vice-Premier Astamur Tarba and Security Service Chairman Givi Agrba resigned following the murder of opposition politician Garri Aiba. Tarba eventually stayed on, Shamba was temporarily replaced by his deputy Gueorgui Otyrba on 18 July, and permanently by Igor Akhba on 28 July. On 7 July Agrba's resignation was accepted and he was replaced by Mikhail Tarba. Head of the Presidential Administration Gennady Gagulia also handed his resignation on 18 June (granted the same day) because he didn't want to be part of Prime Minister Khajimba's presidential campaign. On 24 June, Gagulia was elected to once more head the Chamber of Commerce, succeeding Yuri Aqaba who resigned to pursue his academic work.
* On 10 November 2004, Ardzinba appointed outgoing Vice Premier Emma Tania acting Chairman of the National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia. On 14 December, Ardzinba decreed the new cabinet structure and made a number of ministerial appointments. The position of First Vice Premier was abolished and presidential candidate Sergei Shamba and Viktor Khilchevski were appointed to succeed Vlamir Zantaria and Emma Tania as Vice Premiers. Shamba was also appointed as Foreign Minister, the position he had resigned from in June, succeeding Igor Akhba. A new Ministry for Emergency Situations was created, to which deputy Interior Minister Sergei Matosyan was appointed. The portfolio for Youth, Sports, Resorts and Tourism was redistributed over the existing Ministries for Education (Youth and Sports) and Economy (Resorts and Tourism). A number of Ministries and State Committees received slightly different names: Economy and Foreign Economic Relations was shortened to Economic Development, Agriculture and Food to Agriculture and General, Secondary and Higher Education to Education while Repatriation was extended to Repatriation and Demography and Forest to Forestry. Outgoing Deputy Chairman Lavrik Mikvabia was appointed Chairman of the Customs State Committee instead of Grigori Enik and Abkhazia's Plenipotentiary in Karachay-Cherkessia Aleksandr Chengelia Chairman of the Property Management and Privatisation State Committee instead of Astamur Appba. The following day, Zantaria was appointed head of the newly created Agency for Press, Information and Telecommunications, Supreme Court Chairman Gennadi Stepanov was appointed Minister for Justice instead of Tengiz Lakerbaia and Oleg Botsiev was re-appointed as Head of the Cabinet Staff. On 23 December, Eduard Jergenia was re-appointed as Chairman of the Forest(ry) State Committee.
* On 1 February 2005, Ardzinba accepted the resignation of Education Minister Tali Japua, who was temporarily replaced by his deputy Natalya Kayun.