Konstantine Gabashvili
Encyclopedia
Konstantine "Kote" Gabashvili (born September 26, 1948) is a Georgian
politician and diplomat. An Orientalist
by training, he has been in government service since 1989. He was a member of the Parliament of Georgia
in 1992 and again from 2004 to 2008. He has also served as Minister of Education (1992—1993), Mayor of Tbilisi
(1993), Ambassador to Germany
(1993—2004) and, simultaneously, to Poland
(2001—2004). Since August 2008, he has been Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Italian Republic, Republic of Malta and San Marino
.
, the capital of then-Soviet Georgia. He graduated Tbilisi State University
with a degree in the Oriental studies in 1971. He tutored at his alma mater
for several years until 1993. From 1989 to 1991 he worked for the Soviet government of Georgia as a Deputy Minister of Education. After the military coup, which overthrew President of Georgia
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
in January 1992, Gabashvili joined the State Council of Georgia, an interim body, which relegated its rights to the newly elected parliament in October 1992. Gabashvili held a seat in this new legislature for only two months as he was moved to the post of Ministry of Education in December 1992. Georgia's Head of State Eduard Shevardnadze
made him Mayor of Tbilisi from February to October 1993.
With the appointment as an ambassador to Germany later in 1993, Gabashvili's decade-long diplomatic career in Berlin
began. In 2001, he simultaneously assumed the position of ambassador to Poland
. After the November 2003 Rose Revolution
, which toppled Eduard Shevardnadze and brought the young reformer Mikheil Saakashvili
to power, Gabashvili resumed his political career in Georgia. Closely allied with Saakashvili, he was elected to the Parliament of Georgia on a United National Movement ticket in 2004. For four years of his tenure, Gabashvili chaired the parliamentary Committee for Foreign Relations. In August 2008, he was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Italy, Malta, and San Marino.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
politician and diplomat. An Orientalist
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
by training, he has been in government service since 1989. He was a member of the Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia is the supreme legislature of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, from which 75 members are proportional representatives and 75 are elected through single-member district plurality system, representing their constituencies...
in 1992 and again from 2004 to 2008. He has also served as Minister of Education (1992—1993), Mayor of Tbilisi
Mayor of Tbilisi
The Mayor of Tbilisi is an elected politician in Tbilisi. Before 2005 the mayors used to be appointed by the central government. In 2006 first mayoral elections were held in the history of the Republic of Georgia...
(1993), Ambassador to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(1993—2004) and, simultaneously, to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(2001—2004). Since August 2008, he has been Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Italian Republic, Republic of Malta and San Marino
San Marino
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino , is a state situated on the Italian Peninsula on the eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. It is an enclave surrounded by Italy. Its size is just over with an estimated population of over 30,000. Its capital is the City of San Marino...
.
Biography
Konstantine Gabashvili was born on September 26, 1948 in TbilisiTbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, the capital of then-Soviet Georgia. He graduated Tbilisi State University
Tbilisi State University
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University , better known as Tbilisi State University , is a university established on 8 February 1918 in Tbilisi, Georgia. TSU is the oldest university in the whole Caucasus region...
with a degree in the Oriental studies in 1971. He tutored at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
for several years until 1993. From 1989 to 1991 he worked for the Soviet government of Georgia as a Deputy Minister of Education. After the military coup, which overthrew President of Georgia
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
Zviad Gamsakhurdia was a dissident, scientist and writer, who became the first democratically elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era...
in January 1992, Gabashvili joined the State Council of Georgia, an interim body, which relegated its rights to the newly elected parliament in October 1992. Gabashvili held a seat in this new legislature for only two months as he was moved to the post of Ministry of Education in December 1992. Georgia's Head of State Eduard Shevardnadze
Eduard Shevardnadze
Eduard Shevardnadze is a former Soviet, and later, Georgian statesman from the height to the end of the Cold War. He served as President of Georgia from 1995 to 2003, and as First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party , from 1972 to 1985. Shevardnadze was responsible for many top decisions on...
made him Mayor of Tbilisi from February to October 1993.
With the appointment as an ambassador to Germany later in 1993, Gabashvili's decade-long diplomatic career in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
began. In 2001, he simultaneously assumed the position of ambassador to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. After the November 2003 Rose Revolution
Rose Revolution
The "Revolution of Roses" was a change of power in Georgia in November 2003, which took place after having widespread protests over the disputed parliamentary elections...
, which toppled Eduard Shevardnadze and brought the young reformer Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
to power, Gabashvili resumed his political career in Georgia. Closely allied with Saakashvili, he was elected to the Parliament of Georgia on a United National Movement ticket in 2004. For four years of his tenure, Gabashvili chaired the parliamentary Committee for Foreign Relations. In August 2008, he was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Italy, Malta, and San Marino.