Star of Former Georgian PM Opened in Strasburg

A commemorative star in memory ex-Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania (1963-2005) was opened outside the building of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasburg. 

The name of Zurab Zhvania and his famous phrase: "I am Georgian and therefore I am European" are inscribed on the star. This phrase was pronounced by Zhvania at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly 20 years ago after the Assembly unanimously supported Georgia's accession to the Council of Europe.

Georgia’s current Prime Minister, Mamuka Bakhtadze, and the family members of Zhvania, also attended the ceremony.

"I am a Georgian, therefore, I am European! Every Georgian knows these words. I always try to emphasize that the membership of the European family is not only a political choice for Georgia. This is our civilizational, value-based choice,” Bakhtadze stated at the ceremony.

Zhvania was an outstanding politician in Georgia. In 1995 he became the Chairman of Parliament and maintained the post until his resignation in 1999, which was followed with a discharge of other ministers, whom Zhvania suspected of corruption.

From 1993 to 2003, Zhvania remained in opposition fighting Shevardnadze's government. In 2003, Zhvania united with other opposition leaders, mainly Burdjanadze and Saakashvili and held non-violent protests against the government. The protests ended with the resignation of Shevardnadze and election of Saakashvili as President. Zhvania became Prime Minister and served in the post until his death in 2005.

On February 3, 2005, Zhvania and Kvemo Kartli Governor Raul Usubov were found dead in a rented apartment in Tbilisi.

The official version of Zhvania's death that it occurred because of a problem with the gas heater is not accepted by members of his family and some opposition members. They believe that Zhvania was killed.

By Thea Morrison