Anatoliy Zaitsev Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Abkhazia Date of Birth: 20.12.1947 Country: Georgia

Biography of Anatoly Zaitsev

Anatoly Innokentievich Zaitsev was born on December 20, 1947, in the city of Choybalsan, Mongolian People's Republic, into a military family. His maternal ancestors were from Abkhazia. Before entering military school, Zaitsev lived in Zabaykalsky Krai. In 1969, he graduated from the Blagoveshchensk Tank School, in 1979 - the Academy of Armored Troops, and in 1991 - the General Staff Academy of the Russian Federation. He served in various positions from tank platoon commander to military district headquarters chief. Zaitsev served in the Far East, Zabaykalsky Krai, Ukraine, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and also served as the chief military advisor in Syria. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Russian Armed Forces. His last position in the Russian army was Deputy Commander of the Zabaykalsky Military District.

In December 2003, after completing his service in the Russian army, Zaitsev obtained Abkhaz citizenship and accepted an invitation from the government of Abkhazia to serve in its armed forces. In June 2004, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense of Abkhazia. It was noted in the media that around the same time, another former Russian military officer, retired Colonel Anatoly Barankevich, became the Defense Minister of South Ossetia, another unrecognized republic. In March 2005, while retaining his position as Deputy Minister of Defense, Zaitsev became the Chief of the General Staff of the Abkhaz Armed Forces.

Zaitsev believes that the presence of Russian peacekeepers in the territory of the unrecognized republic is the best guarantee of security and prevention of renewed military actions between Abkhazia and Georgia, especially considering that a large part of Abkhazia's population are citizens of the Russian Federation. He also stated that in the event of the withdrawal of peacekeepers, the Abkhaz army and volunteers from Transnistria and South Ossetia would take over the border line. Zaitsev has been awarded Soviet orders of the Red Star and "For Military Merit". Additionally, he has the Abkhaz order "Akhdz-Apsha" (Honor and Glory) of the third degree.