Vladimir Zantaria, an Abkhazian poet and politician who served as chairman of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company from 1993 to 1994 and as minister for culture from 1999 to 2001, died on March 21, 2026.
Born on September 27, 1953, in Tamishi, in the Abkhaz ASSR, he graduated from the philological faculty of the Sukhumi State Pedagogical Institute in 1975. He was also a member of the 1st convocation of the People’s Assembly from 1992 to 1997 and later served as vice premier in the government of President Vladislav Ardzinba from 1999 to 2004.
Vladimir Konstantin-ipa Zantaria (Abkhaz: Владимир Константин-иԥа Занҭариа, Russian: Владимир Константинович Зантария, romanized: Vladimir Konstantinovich Zantariya; 27 September 1953 – 21 March 2026) was an Abkhaz poet and politician. From 1999 until 2004, he served first as Minister for Culture and then as Vice Premier in the Government of President Vladislav Ardzinba.