Tbilisi names 32 new honorary citizens during Tbilisoba celebrations

Thirty-two people have been awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi this year, with Mayor Kakha Kaladze presenting the honours at an official reception held as part of Tbilisoba, the Georgian capital’s annual city festival.

The recipients represent a broad range of fields, including medicine, science, education, sport, arts, literature, journalism and public service. The honorary citizenship title is awarded in recognition of distinguished professional careers and contributions to Tbilisi and Georgian society.

This year’s recipients are:

1. Ramaz Khetsuriani - Doctor of Medical Sciences and professor, and Academician-Secretary for Physiology and Medicine at the Georgian National Academy of Sciences. He served as Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University from 1992 to 2005 and has authored more than 300 scientific publications, as well as numerous medical textbooks. He has received several state and international honours for his contribution to medical education and science.

2. Davit Gordeladze - Physician, therapist, Doctor of Medical Sciences and professor. A former dean of the restored Faculty of Medicine at Tbilisi State University, he is the founder and first president of the Georgian Association of Therapists and has contributed to the development of national clinical standards. He is the author of more than 100 scientific papers and has been awarded Georgia’s Order of Honour.

3. Mikheil Kilosanidze - Sound engineer recognised for his contribution to preserving and restoring Georgia’s musical heritage. He held senior positions at the Melodiya studio and the Jansug Kakhidze Tbilisi Center for Music and Culture and also worked with Georgian Radio and the Georgian Film studio.

4. Nino Salukvadze - Olympic champion and one of Georgia’s most decorated athletes. She has represented the country at multiple Olympic Games and is a 17-time European and seven-time world champion, as well as a two-time Guinness World Record holder. She currently serves as Vice-President of the Georgian National Olympic Committee.

5. Nugzar Rukhadze - Journalist and diplomat who has worked with US television networks and served in senior positions at Georgia’s Foreign Ministry and other state institutions. He has also translated works by American literary classics into Georgian.

6. Vladimer Papava - Economist, Doctor of Economic Sciences, professor and member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences. He served as Georgia’s Economy Minister from 1993 to 2000 and as Rector of Tbilisi State University from 2013 to 2016. He has published more than 500 academic works and is affiliated with several international academic institutions.

7. Leri Khabelov - Olympic wrestling champion and President of the Georgian National Olympic Committee. A five-time world and four-time European champion, Khabelov has been inducted into the international wrestling Hall of Fame and previously served as a member of the Georgian Parliament.

8. Ivane Kuzanov - Plastic surgeon, Doctor of Medical Sciences and professor. He founded the Georgian Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and heads the Kuzanov Clinic. He has played a major role in developing modern plastic and reconstructive surgery in Georgia.

9. Avtandil Demetrashvili - Lawyer and professor regarded as a prominent figure in Georgian constitutional law. His career has included senior academic and public positions and work related to the development of Georgia’s constitutional institutions.

10. Yuri Osipov - Fencer and multiple Georgian, Soviet and world champion. He won an Olympic silver medal in Melbourne and serves as Honorary President of the Georgian Fencing Federation.

11. Kira Andronikashvili - Georgian film and theatre actress and art historian, known for roles in several major Georgian films, including Me, Grandma, Iliko and Ilarion, Under One Sky, The Abduction of the Moon and Cinema.

12. Revaz Kldiashvili - Chemical engineer, writer and playwright who has contributed to engineering, natural sciences and cultural heritage conservation. He heads the restoration and conservation research laboratory at Georgia’s Korneli Kekelidze National Centre of Manuscripts.

13. Mamuka Mikeladze - Monumental artist involved in the painting and restoration of numerous religious and secular buildings across Georgia. His work has also contributed to the rehabilitation of cultural and public spaces in Tbilisi.

14. Irma Gurieli - Journalist, actress and poet. She has hosted television programmes, performed at major Georgian theatres and worked as a soloist with the Rero State Variety Orchestra. More than 70 songs based on her poetry are preserved in Georgian television and radio archives.

15. Iano Alibegashvili - Opera singer who has contributed to the development and international promotion of Georgian opera. In 2025, she received Italy’s Order of the Star of Italy at the rank of Knight for her contribution to opera and Georgian-Italian cultural relations.

16. Giorgi Korkadze - Musician and long-serving director of the Evgeni Mikeladze Music College. His career has focused on music education and the professional development of generations of young Georgian musicians.

17. Davit Metreveli - Endocrinologist, Vice-President of the Georgian Society of Endocrinology and Director of the Davit Metreveli Medical Centre. He has contributed to the development of endocrinology and the introduction of modern medical standards in Georgia.

18. Murman Gelenidze - Artist known for his work on Georgian typefaces and research into the graphic forms of the Georgian alphabet. His works have been exhibited in Georgia and elsewhere in Europe.

19. Levan Japaridze - Engineer and Doctor of Technical Sciences specialising in underground structures, tunnel construction, rock mechanics and mining engineering. He is the author of more than 130 scientific publications and a monograph.

20. Tariel Onashvili - Singer and a first-generation member of Georgia’s Rustavi State Academic Ensemble of Folk Song and Dance. Numerous recordings of his performances are preserved in Georgia’s national audio archive.

21. Givi Shugharov - Engineer, politician and former member of the Georgian Parliament. He has held diplomatic posts at the Foreign Ministry, served in Tbilisi’s municipal administration and participated in three Olympic Games as a member of Georgia’s Olympic delegation.

22. Nugzar Medzmariashvili - Monumental artist whose career has focused on monumental and decorative painting. His notable works include the encaustic panel Victory, created for the Karishkhala sports complex.

23. Tengiz Asatiani - Reproductive medicine specialist and obstetrician-gynaecologist who has contributed to the development of obstetrics and gynaecology in Georgia. He has served as a World Health Organization expert and is affiliated with European and international professional associations.

24. Edisher Machaidze - International wrestling referee and professor. He is a member of the United World Wrestling scientific council and UWW Europe’s executive structures and has officiated and served as an instructor at major international competitions, including the Olympic Games.

25. Elguja Adamia - Gastroenterologist, professor and medical researcher who has contributed to medical science and the training of young physicians in Georgia.

26. Revaz Javakhishvili - Economist and Doctor of Economic Sciences who has spent many years working with young researchers and future economists. He is a member of the Academy of Business Sciences and the Georgian Federation of Journalists.

27. Besarion Dochviri - Scientist and Doctor of Physics and Mathematics who has worked at Tbilisi State University’s Institute of Applied Mathematics and Friedrich Schiller University Jena in Germany. He has published more than 200 scientific papers.

28. Giorgi Alibegashvili - Professor and Doctor of Philology who previously chaired the Tbilisi City Council and has headed Georgia’s State Language Department since 2017. He has also held senior academic positions at Tbilisi State University.

29. Zurab Goshadze - Poet and philologist whose works include several well-known poems and song lyrics dedicated to Tbilisi. Georgian composers have set a number of his poems to music.

30. Ramaz Khurodze - Engineer, Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor and Vice-President of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences. A former Rector of Georgian Technical University, he has published more than 150 scientific works, including a monograph in the field of artificial intelligence.

31. Grigol (Gia) Murghulia - Educator and Doctor of Philology who has contributed to reforms in Georgia’s school education system and to the development of educational resources. His work has also focused on promoting Georgian language, literature and public literacy.

32. Jemal Dzagania - Doctor of Education, professor and Vice-Rector of the Georgian State University of Sport. He served as Rector from 2015 to 2024 and has contributed to the development of physical education, sport and sports education in Georgia. He is the author of 10 monographs, eight textbooks and 75 scientific papers.

The awards were presented as part of Tbilisoba, an annual festival celebrating Tbilisi’s history, culture and traditions.