Irine Sarishvili-Chanturia
Encyclopedia
Irina Sarishvili-Chanturia (b. 24 December 1963, Tbilisi
), is a Georgia
n NGO
leader, formerly actively involved in national politics.
A philologist
by education, she graduated from the Faculty of Western Literature at Tbilisi State University
in 1984.
Married to the prominent Georgian politician Giorgi Chanturia
, she was a member of the National Democratic Party of Georgia (NDPG) and participated in several protest actions against Soviet
rule in the late 1980s. Appointed Deputy Prime Minister
(1993–94), she headed the NDPG faction (second largest faction at that time) in the Georgian parliament from 1992 to 1999.
After the assassination of her husband in 1995 (she herself was seriously wounded in the attack), she was elected Chairperson of the NDPG. Prior to the 2003 parliamentary elections, she became a spokesperson of the pro-governmental bloc "For a New Georgia". She called on President Eduard Shevardnadze
to use tough measures against the mass demonstrations that led to Georgia's Rose Revolution
in November 2003. After Shevardnadze's ouster, she resigned as chairperson of the NDPG and formed an NGO
to oppose Mikheil Saakashvili
's government. Currently she plays no significant role in the nation's political life.
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...
), is a Georgia
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...
n NGO
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
leader, formerly actively involved in national politics.
A philologist
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
by education, she graduated from the Faculty of Western Literature at 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...
in 1984.
Married to the prominent Georgian politician Giorgi Chanturia
Giorgi Chanturia
Giorgi Chanturia was a Georgian politician and the National Democratic Party leader who was murdered in Tbilisi, Georgia in December 1994....
, she was a member of the National Democratic Party of Georgia (NDPG) and participated in several protest actions against Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
rule in the late 1980s. Appointed Deputy Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Georgia
The Prime Minister of Georgia is the most senior minister within the Cabinet of Georgia, appointed by the President of Georgia. The official title of the Head of the Government of Georgia has varied throughout history, however, the duties and functions of the leader have changed only marginally....
(1993–94), she headed the NDPG faction (second largest faction at that time) in the Georgian parliament from 1992 to 1999.
After the assassination of her husband in 1995 (she herself was seriously wounded in the attack), she was elected Chairperson of the NDPG. Prior to the 2003 parliamentary elections, she became a spokesperson of the pro-governmental bloc "For a New Georgia". She called on President 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...
to use tough measures against the mass demonstrations that led to Georgia's 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...
in November 2003. After Shevardnadze's ouster, she resigned as chairperson of the NDPG and formed an NGO
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
to oppose 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...
's government. Currently she plays no significant role in the nation's political life.