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Abashidze was born into a renowned Muslim and Georgian (Ajarian) family. His grandfather Memed Abashidze was a famous writer and member of the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Georgia between 1918- 1921, but was shot on Stalin's orders in 1937. His father was sent to the Gulag for ten years but survived. Despite a difficult childhood, during the 1950sCenturies: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Years: 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 Events and trends Technology United States tests the first fusion bomb. Abashidze was able to obtain degrees in history and philosophy at Batumi University and in economics at Tbilisi State UniversityTbilisi Ivane Javakhishvili State University (TSU, georgian was established on January 26, 1918, in Tbilisi (capital of the Republic of Georgia). TSU is a major scientific-educational complex of Georgia, the first and greatest University in the Caucasus.. He worked as a teacher and economist for a period before joining Georgia's regional public service. He was the director of several technical service institutes before being named a regional minister in Batumi, the capital of Ajaria, where he served as Minister of Community Service. He was later appointed the national First Deputy Minister of Community Service and moved to Tblisi. This was, however, a relatively minor government post.
When Georgia regained its independence in 1991, Abashidze secured his appointment as Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Ajaria. He was also appointed Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, a post that he retained in 1990Events January January 3 Former leader of Panama Manuel Noriega surrenders to American forces. January 7 The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public due to safety concerns. January 9 Lt Gen Bazilio Olara Okello The man who led the coup aginst Dr Apo- 19921992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday. Events January January The Internet Society is formed. January 1 Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General January 1 George H. Bush becomes the fi and 19921992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday. Events January January The Internet Society is formed. January 1 Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General January 1 George H. Bush becomes the fi- 19951995 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). It has a Golden number of 1, and was the first year of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995- 2005): http://www. org/culture/indigenous . Events January events Ja. He built an independent power base in Ajaria by steering a course between the Tblisi government and the opposition. He established his own army as a counterweight to the armed factions that supported and opposed President Zviad GamsakhurdiaZviad Konstantines dze Gamsakhurdia ( Georgian: ) ( March 31, 1939 December 31, 1993) was a dissident, scientist and writer, who became the first democratically elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era. Particularly in Soviet-er. When civil war broke out between pro- and anti-Gamsakhurdia forces in the winter of 1991-92 and again in the autumn of 1993, he kept both sides out of Ajaria, ensuring that the fighting did not spread to the republic.
However, unlike the rulers of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, he did not attempt to seek independence for Ajaria and pursued what can best be described as a policy of "armed autonomy" after the fall of Gamsakhurdia. He effectively turned Ajaria into a "free economic zone" with few restrictions on trade (and, reportedly, smuggling) but with the customs duties and revenues going to his government rather than Tblisi. His economic policies have been quite successful and have made Ajaria one of the wealthier parts of Georgia.
Abashidze has attracted some criticism for heavy-handed rule, which has often been described as feudal, but he appears to be genuinely popular among Ajarians. He established his own political party in 1992, known variously as the Union of Democratic Revival or the Union for Georgia's Rebirth. In 1998, he was elected President of Ajaria with 93% of the vote in what Russian observers regarded as a generally free and fair election (although this verdict may have been influenced by Abashidze's consistently pro-Russian policies).
He has preferred to exercise influence from a distance, rather than attempting to bid for national power, and has consistently adopted a policy of backing whoever seems to offer the best deal for maintaining his rule over Ajaria. He reached an accommodation with President Eduard Shevardnadze, who appears to have preferred to live with a semi-independent Ajaria rather than risk another civil war. His relations with Shevardnadze grew frosty at the end of the 1990s, as he and the government traded accusations of corruption and treason.