 Between 1997 and 2000, Pipia gained a post-graduate degree from the Russian Presidential Academy of Public Administration.In the March 2002 election, Pipia was elected to the 3rd convocation of the People's Assembly of Abkhazia.On 19 February 2004, Pipia became one of fifteen (out of 35) founding members of the opposition faction "Unity", led by Daur Tarba.