Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze and Chairman of Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze laid a wreath at the grave of first President of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia in connection with his 80th birthday.

The Head of the Government and the Chairman of Parliament were accompanied in the Mtatsminda pantheon of writers and public figures by members of the government and the Deputy Chairman of the Parliament, Zviad Dzidziguri.

Zviad Gamsakhurdia was born on March 31, 1939. He was one of the leaders of the national liberation movement. His name is associated with restoration of Georgia's independence. On April 9, 1991, on the basis of the results of the Universal People's Referendum held on 31 March 1991, the Supreme Council of Georgia declared the independence of Georgia.

Zviad Gamsakhurdia was elected President of Georgia in spring 1991 and was expelled from the country as a result of a military coup in early 1992.

The first President of Georgia died in the village of Khibula, Samegrelo region, on 31 December 1993.