Introduction
Aslan Bzhania (Russian: Аслан Бжания) is a former Head of the State Security Service, a former Presidential candidate and one of the current leaders of the opposition in Abkhazia.
Early life
Bzhania was born on 6 April 1963 in the village of Tamysh, Ochamchira District. In 1985, he graduated from the Moscow Automobile and Road Construction University.
Early career
Between 1991 and 1993, Bzhania worked for the State Security Service of Abkhazia. In 1994, he became a businessman in Moscow. In 1998, he graduated from the Academy of National Economy under the President of the Russian Federation. Between 1 January 2009 and 24 February 2010, Bzhania served as advisor to the Abkhazian Embassy in Moscow.
State Security Service Head (2010–2014)
On 23 February 2010, following the re-election of Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh, he appointed Bzhania has head of the State Security Service, replacing Iuri Ashuba. Following Bagapsh's death in 2011, Bzhania was re-appointed by his successor Alexander Ankvab.
2014 Revolution and Presidential election
In 2014, after the May revolution against Ankvab, Bzhania became the candidate of the outgoing government in the subsequent Presidential election, running with Astan Agrba as Vice Presidential candidate. The pair was mominated by an initiative group on 2 July and received the support of the political party Amtsakhara, former Vice President Mikhail Logua and part of the campaign staff of nominee Beslan Eshba, who had been barred from running.
On 21 July, a group of citizens petitioned the Supreme Court to declare Bzhania's registration invalid, as it claimed he had not satisfied the five-year residency requirement, having lived in Moscow until February 2010. The case was dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired.
Bzhania lost the election in the first round to opposition leader Raul Khajimba, coming in second place with 35.88% of the votes.
Opposition leader
On 3 December 2016, Bzhania was detained by Russian border guards before crossing the border into Abkhazia. The event triggered protests by the Abkhazian opposition, who alleged Bzhania had been arrested on behest of the Abkhazian authorities. On 4 December, President Khajimba asked the Russian Ambassador in Abkhazia to facilitate Bzhania's release. In the evening, Bzhania was released and allowed to cross the border. In a press conference on 6 December, Bzhania stated that he had no direct evidence of involvement by the Abkhazian government, but claimed that while detained, he was approached by a man in civilian clothes who said he was instructed to inform him that he constituted a threat to both the Russian and the Abkhazian state. He also described how he had been subjected to multiple alcohol and drugs tests, and how his personal weapon, munition and license were subjected to close scrutiny.