Georgia commemorates national hero Shartava killed during fall of Russian-controlled Abkhazia’s capital

Georgia commemorates the 80th birthday of Zhiuli Shartava, the national hero of the country today, who was killed on September 27, 1993 by separatist forces in the currently Russian-occupied Abkhazia region. 

Shartava, who chaired the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, was captured along with other officials during the fall of Sokhumi, the region’s capital, and subjected to excessive torture, as revealed in a United Nations report.

The conflict between the Georgian government and separatist forces in Abkhazia occurred from 1992 to 1993, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians and servicemembers and the displacement of approximately 300,000 people.

Shartava’s bravery and sacrifice led to him being awarded the title of National Hero of Georgia in 2004.