Lithuania to Call Georgia ‘Sakartvelo’ Instead of ‘Gruzia’

Lithuanian media reports that Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament Viktoras Pranckietis initiated to change the official name for Georgia from the traditional Slavic ‘Gruzia’ to ‘Sakartvelo’, commonly used by Georgians.

"Georgians do not like the word ‘Gruzia’. They prefer for their country to be called ‘Sakartvelo’”, Pranckietis said, adding that while in Tbilisi, a number of ordinary citizens of Georgia and President Giorgi Margvelashvili himself told him that Georgians don’t like the word ‘gruzia’. 

The Speaker added the name will be changed in 2018 and this would be a "great gift” for Georgians from Lithuanians.

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: baltnews.lt