Georgian PM marks anniversary of 1978 language protests

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday commemorated the anniversary of the April 14, 1978 protests, describing it as one of the most significant moments in Georgia’s modern history.

In a statement posted on social media, Kobakhidze recalled the mass demonstrations that took place 47 years ago, when Georgians mobilised to protest against a Soviet plan to strip the Georgian language of its official status.

“The Soviet government’s intention to strip the Georgian language of its state language status was met with a patriotic response from Georgian society, which forced the Soviet government to reverse its decision,” he wrote.

Kobakhidze emphasised that the Georgian language “remains a symbol of national identity, spirituality, and unity”, calling for continued efforts to promote and protect its use.

He referenced 19th-century writer and national figure Ilia Chavchavadze, who described language as a “sacred thing and a public property that a man must support.”

“This heroic act of supporting the native language not only preserved its status, but also marked a turning point, giving the first powerful impetus to the rise of the national movement,” Kobakhidze noted.

The PM further stressed Georgia’s ongoing responsibility to “support all our fellow citizens in studying the Georgian language and to strengthen its importance as a state language” on the global cultural stage.

On 14 April 1978, thousands of Georgians, including students and intellectuals, took to the streets of Tbilisi after Soviet authorities proposed constitutional amendments that would have demoted the Georgian language’s official status in the republic. The rare public dissent forced the Soviet leadership to abandon the plan – a rare concession at the time.

The date has since been marked as Georgian Language Day, and is considered a milestone in Georgia’s struggle for cultural and political autonomy.