Otari Arshba

[4] In 1989–1991, Arshba stood at the origins of Abkhazian statehood in modern times, serving as an advisor and organizer of political activities in the Soviet parliament of the USSR people's deputy, the future fighter for the independence of the republic, the first president of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba.

[4] Arshba is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the West Siberian Metallurgical Plant (Russian: Западно-Сибирский металлургический комбинат) which merged into Evraz in July 2011 to become OJSC EVRAZ - Consolidated West Siberian Metallurgical Plant (ZSMK) (Russian: ЗСМК).

[7][8] On 3 December 2004, Arshba, Leonid Lebedev, and others founded VAO R. Prim Company (Russian: "Фирмы ВАО Р. Прим") which operated gas stations.

[16] In September 2022, Arshba was added to United States sanctions lists for backing a law to criminalize the dissemination of "fake news" about the Russian army and the war in Ukraine.

[19][20] In March 2023, Ukrainian court sentenced Arshba to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property under the article on encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine.