Vasil Sikharulidze
Encyclopedia
Vasil Sikharulidze (born May 30, 1968) is a Georgian
diplomat and politician. He has been foreign affairs advisor to the President of Georgia
since August 27, 2009. He had previously served as Ambassador to the United States
(2006-2008) and Georgia's Minister of Defence (2008-2009).
Born in Tbilisi
, then-Soviet Georgia, Sikharulidze graduated from Tbilisi State Medical University
in 1993 and practiced psychiatry
from 1993 to 1995. After a brief tenure as an Executive Director of the Atlantic Council of Georgia, an umbrella organization that brings together Georgian NGOs working on Euro
-Atlantic integration issues, Sikharulidze worked for the Parliament of Georgia
as a leading specialist on defense and security issues from 1996 to 2000. He headed the NATO division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia from 2000 to 2002 and served as a deputy head of the Georgian Mission of NATO in Brussels
. He worked for the National Security Council of Georgia
in 2004 and served as a Deputy Minister of Defense in the years 2005-2006.
In March 2006, Sikharulidze was appointed the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the United States
, Canada
and Mexico
. He was recalled in December 2008 to replace, as the Minister of Defense of Georgia, Davit Kezerashvili
, whose conduct during the August 2008 war with Russia
had been criticized by the opposition. Sikharulidze held the post for eight months, overseeing the rebuilding of Georgia's shattered military after the war. On August 27, 2009, he was replaced with deputy Bacho Akhalaia
, a close ally of President Mikheil Saakashvili
and influential Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili
, a decision subjected by the opposition to criticism. Sikharulidze was moved to the post of President's foreign policy advisor.
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...
diplomat and politician. He has been foreign affairs advisor to the 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...
since August 27, 2009. He had previously served as Ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(2006-2008) and Georgia's Minister of Defence (2008-2009).
Born in Tbilisi
Tbilisi
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...
, then-Soviet Georgia, Sikharulidze graduated from Tbilisi State Medical University
Tbilisi State Medical University
Tbilisi State Medical University is a leading medical eniversity in Caucasus Region. TSMU was founded as Tbilisi Medical Institute in 1918 and became the Faculty of Medicine within the Tbilisi State University in 1930. Tbilisi State Medical Institute was renamed to Medical University in 1992...
in 1993 and practiced psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
from 1993 to 1995. After a brief tenure as an Executive Director of the Atlantic Council of Georgia, an umbrella organization that brings together Georgian NGOs working on Euro
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
-Atlantic integration issues, Sikharulidze worked for 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...
as a leading specialist on defense and security issues from 1996 to 2000. He headed the NATO division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia from 2000 to 2002 and served as a deputy head of the Georgian Mission of NATO in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. He worked for the National Security Council of Georgia
National Security Council of Georgia
The National Security Council of Georgia is an advisory body for the President of Georgia dealing with matters of national security. The current Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia is Giga Bokeria.-Legal authority:...
in 2004 and served as a Deputy Minister of Defense in the years 2005-2006.
In March 2006, Sikharulidze was appointed the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He was recalled in December 2008 to replace, as the Minister of Defense of Georgia, Davit Kezerashvili
Davit Kezerashvili
Davit Kezerashvili is a Georgian politician, who from November 10, 2006 to December 5, 2008 was the country's Minister of Defense.-Biography:...
, whose conduct during the August 2008 war with Russia
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....
had been criticized by the opposition. Sikharulidze held the post for eight months, overseeing the rebuilding of Georgia's shattered military after the war. On August 27, 2009, he was replaced with deputy Bacho Akhalaia
Bacho Akhalaia
Bachana "Bacho" Akhalaia is a Georgian politician and the country's Minister of Defense since August 27, 2009.Akhalaia graduated from Tbilisi State University with a degree in Law in 2004. From 2003 to 2004, he worked for the NGO Liberty Institute, known for his role in protests that led to the...
, a close ally of President 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...
and influential Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili
Vano Merabishvili
Ivane Merabishvili is a Georgian politician who has served as the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs since December 18, 2004...
, a decision subjected by the opposition to criticism. Sikharulidze was moved to the post of President's foreign policy advisor.