1991 – 1996 Doctoral Candidate at the Institute for Descriptive and Comparative Linguistics,
Leiden University,
Netherlands. In 1996 he defended the doctoral thesis "Common West Caucasian. The Reconstruction of its Phonological System and Parts of its Lexicon and Morphology". Supervisors: Prof. Dr. F.kortlandt, Dr. R. Smeets.
1996 – 1997 Invited Researcher at the Institute of International Relations "Clingendael",
The Hague,
Netherlands. Research topic: "Abkhaz-Georgian Conflict".
2000 – 2004 Postdoctoral Research Project «Grammar of Sadz Abkhaz », Lecturer of Caucasian Languages at the Institute for Descriptive and Comparative Linguistics,
Leiden University,
Netherlands.
Courses taught: Introduction to Caucasian Linguistics; Abkhaz Grammar; Georgian Grammar.
Member of European Society of Caucasus Researchers (Societas Caucasologica Europaea).
Member of the Association for the Study of Language in Prehistory (The Association For The Study Of Language In Prehistory).
Member of the SOCIETAS LINGUISTICA EUROPAEA.
Diplomatic and political career
1993 – 1994 Member of the Abkhaz Delegation at the Georgian-Abkhaz Negotiations under the UN Aegis in
Geneva.
1993 – 1998 Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Abkhazia to the Countries of Western Europe.
1998 – 2007 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of
Abkhazia to the Countries of
Western Europe.
2005 – Member of the executive board of Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (
UNPO).
2007 – 2008 Foreign Policy Adviser of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia.
2008 – Head of Delegation of the Republic of Abkhazia at the International
Geneva Discussions.
On 11 October 2011, Chirikba was appointed
Minister for Foreign Affairs by newly elected President
Alexander Ankvab.[2] On 17 October 2014, Chirikba was one of few government members to be re-appointed in the cabinet of Prime Minister
Beslan Butba following the
May 2014 Revolution and subsequent election of
Raul Khajimba as president.[3] Chirikba was again re-appointed under Prime Minister
Artur Mikvabia, but on 20 September 2016, after the appointment of
Beslan Bartsits as Prime Minister, he released a statement in which he announced his resignation because he was unable to continue in his post under the current circumstances.[4] On 4 October Chirikba's successor
Daur Kove was appointed.[5]
Vice Chairman of the Committee on the Implementation of the State Program of the Abkhaz Language Development.
He is the founder and chairman of Humanitarian Fund "International Centre for Information and Documentation about
Abkhazia".
Main publications
Aspects of Phonological Typology.
Moscow: Nauka, 1991, 143 p.
Common West Caucasian: The Reconstruction of its Phonological System and Parts of its Lexicon and Morphology.
Leiden: CNWS Publications, 1996, 452 pp.
A Dictionary of Common Abkhaz.
Leiden, 1996, 126 pp.
Abkhaz – Languages of the World/Materials 119. München: Lincom Europa, 2003, 92 pp.
Reconstructing Proto-West Caucasian: From North Caucasian to West Caucasian via "Chinese"? Chirikba, ??, 27 pp.
Development of the
Abkhaz language in the condition of a multi-ethnic society (Challenges and Prospects). Sukhum, 2009, 53 pp.
The International Legal Status of the Republic of Abkhazia. Sukhum, 2013, 88 pp.