The Rector of Tbilisi State University, Academician Jaba Samushia opened the presentation of a collection commemorating the 150th anniversary of Akaki Chkhenkeli, a Georgian diplomat and one of the founders of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. The publication, prepared by the TSU Library, comprises a comprehensive collection of Akaki Chkhenkeli's personal diaries and formal correspondence.

The event was attended by Khatuna Totladze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Kakhaber Labuchidze, a member of the Tbilisi City Council, professors, students, and invited guests.

TSU Rector Jaba Samushia spoke about Akaki Chkhenkeli’s contribution to the formation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. “We deliberately decided to present this collection on February 25, because this day is symbolic in the life of Akaki Chkhenkeli and, on the other hand, this is a day that should never reoccur in the history of Georgia. On February 25, Soviet Russia occupied our country that continued for 70 years, which hindered the development of our country. The publication of this collection, as well as the activities that were carried out within the framework of the 150th anniversary events, is a tribute to the great political figure. I think that the university should also prepare publications on other prominent politicians of the First Democratic Republic, because these people created the First Democratic Republic,” Jaba Samushia noted.

“Formal correspondence, conversations and minutes” fully covers the period of Akaki Chkhenkeli’s tenure as Georgian Ambassador to Paris. The first volume of the publication contains formal letters and instructions sent by Chkhenkeli to Georgian diplomatic representatives in various European countries. It also includes conversations with a number of famous European politicians and officials of that time. The letters and conversations cover the period of 1921-1939. The second volume of the publication brings together various foreign-language documents written or prepared with Chkhenkeli’s participation. The documents are accompanied by Georgian translations. The two-volume collection was prepared with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Zurab Gaiparashvili, Director of the TSU Library, said that the TSU Library has dedicated two publications to the 150th anniversary of Akaki Chkhenkeli’s birth. “I think that both publications are interesting for those who are interested in Georgian history, as well as for a wider audience, and will become a desk book for any diplomat,” Zurab Gaiparashvili noted.

An exhibition of materials related to Akaki Chkhenkeli’s works preserved in the TSU Library and the National Archives of Georgia was also held on the sidelines of the event.

The events commemorating the 150th anniversary of Akaki Chkhenkeli’s birth were organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, the National Archives of Georgia, and the Tbilisi City Hall.