Zaza Gogava

Who is Zaza Gogava?

Zaza Gogava is a Georgian Major General. He served as a Chief of Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Georgia from November 2006 to November 2008 and the chief of Border Police from November 2008 to July 2012.

Gogava graduated from the Tbilisi State Technical University in 1994 and began his career in the special task group "Omega" within Georgia's security services in 1995. He has since served in various counterterrorist units and special forces subdivisions, and was further trained in the United States between 1995 and 2002. Gogava was placed in command of the Counterterrorism Division of Special Operations Center in 2003 and the élite Police Special Tasks Division named after General G. Gulua in 2004. He was appointed Commander of Special Forces Brigade of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia in 2004 and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Georgia in 2006. After the reshuffle within the Ministry of Defense in November 2006, Gogava became the Chief of Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Georgia.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili replaced Gogava in November 2008, saying "shortcomings" during a war with Russia need addressing. Gogava was appointed as chief of Border Police, replacing Badri Bitsadze, who has earlier announced his resignation. Gogava served in this position until the reshuffle in the Interior Ministry top brass in July 2012.