Famous Georgian Poet Jansug Charkviani Dies at 86

Famous Georgian poet, Jansug Charkviani, died at the age of 86 on November 5, after several months of illness.

He will be buried at the Mtatsminda Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures on November 8.

A Public funeral will be held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Thursday, at 11am.

Born in Tbilisi, Charkviani graduated from the Tbilisi State University in 1953. He had his first poems published in 1947.

From 1960-1990s he was also the editor of several literary magazines. He was awarded, inter alia, the Shota Rustaveli Prize (1984), Georgia's Order of Honor, and the title of Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi (1996).

Charkviani was a member of the Parliament of Georgia from 1995 to 2003.

Georgian President, Giorgi Margvelashvili, offered his condolences to the family and friends of the poet.

“I am heartbroken by the death of the Georgian poet Jansug Charkviani. His poetry is a valuable acquisition of Georgian literature,” he stated.

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili also expressed sorrow over the death of the Georgian poet.

“The death of Jansug Charkviani is a great loss for our country. I offer my condolences to his family and the whole of Georgian society,” the PM’s statement reads.

By Thea Morrison