Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has posthumously awarded Dimitri Amilakhvari,  French military officer and Lieutenant Colonel of Georgian origin in the French Foreign Legion who played an important role in the French resistance against Nazi occupation during the World War II, with the title of national hero yesterday. 

Zurabishvili says that Amilakhvari deserved the title for ‘dignified portrayal’ of Georgia on the international arena, for his ‘great contribution’ to the creation of a ‘particularly positive’ attitude towards Georgia and for his self-sacrifice for universal values.

Zurabishvili arrived in France yesterday and took part in an event dedicated to the recognition of the first democratic republic of Georgia by France 100 years ago. 

Back in 2018 France and Georgia launched a high level dialogue format named after Georgian prince Amilakhvari.