Zviad Gamsakhurdia Georgian dissident, scholar and writer, first democratically elected president of Georgia Date of Birth: 31.03.1939 Country: Georgia

Content:

1. Early Life and Education
2. Activism and Dissent
3. Samizdat Publications and Human Rights Advocacy:
4. Journalistic Endeavors:
5. Arrest and Exile
6. National Leader
7. Chairman of Supreme Soviet and Presidency:
8. Downfall and Death
9. Return and Demise:

Zviad Gamsakhurdia: Georgian Dissident and First Democratically-Elected President

Zviad Gamsakhurdia (1939-1993) was a prominent Georgian dissident, scholar, and writer who became the first democratically elected president of Georgia.

Early Life and Education

Born in 1939 to renowned Georgian writer Konstantinē Gamsakhurdia, Zviad pursued a career in literature. He obtained a Doctorate of Philological Sciences from Tbilisi State University, specializing in Western European languages.

Activism and Dissent

Church Involvement and Rights Group:

From the early 1970s, Gamsakhurdia was a member of the Union of Georgian Writers and actively participated in church life. He joined the church council of Tbilisi's Sioni Cathedral and played a key role in disseminating information about religious persecution in Georgia.

Samizdat Publications and Human Rights Advocacy:

In 1974, he became a founding member of the "Initiative Group for the Protection of Human Rights in Georgia." He published samizdat works and was a member of the Soviet group of Amnesty International.

Journalistic Endeavors:

From 1975, Gamsakhurdia edited the literary and publicistic journal "Golden Fleece" and, with Merab Kostava, published the samizdat journal "Messenger of Georgia."

Arrest and Exile

In 1977, Gamsakhurdia was arrested and put on trial for his dissident activities. He initially repented but later protested the political nature of the charges. Sentenced to two or three years of exile in Dagestan, he was pardoned by the Georgian Supreme Soviet in 1979.

National Leader

Society of St. Elijah the Righteous and "Round Table":

Upon his return to Tbilisi, Gamsakhurdia became a co-chairman of the Society of St. Elijah the Righteous and a leader of the "Round Table - Free Georgia" bloc.

Chairman of Supreme Soviet and Presidency:

Elected Chairman of the Georgian Supreme Soviet in 1990, he became the first democratically elected president of Georgia in 1991.

Downfall and Death

Military Coup and Exile:

In 1992, Gamsakhurdia was overthrown by a military coup and fled the country.

Return and Demise:

He returned to Georgia in 1993 but was killed in the mountainous region of Samegrelo under mysterious circumstances. His body was buried in Chechnya.

Georgia

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