From 2008 until 2021 he was the first ambassador of the Republic of Abkhazia to the Russian Federation, and in 2004 he was for a short time the Minister for Foreign Affairs of his country.

In 1992, Igor Akhba was named presidential plenipotentiary to Russia, a post he has held for a long time.

On 28 July 2004, Akhba was temporarily appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia by outgoing President Vladislav Ardzinba.

[1] On 14 December 2004, shortly after the height of the crisis following the 2004 presidential election, he was replaced by Sergei Shamba and returned to his posting in Moscow.

[2] On 26 August 2008 the Republic of Abkhazia was formally recognised as independent by the Russian Federation, on 9 September the two states established diplomatic relations and on 14 November Igor Akhba was appointed as the first Abkhazian ambassador to Russia.