Irakli Abashidze

Irakli Abashidze (Georgian: ირაკლი აბაშიძე) (10 September 1909 – 14 January 1992) was a Georgian poet, literary scholar and politician.

His poems are viewed as classical works of Georgian literature. His poetry was mostly patriotic based on Georgian cultural and religious values, but normally loyal to Soviet ideology. He welcomed Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika and supported the Soviet-era dissident Zviad Gamsakhurdia when he came to power and led Georgia to the declaration of independence in 1991. Abashidze died in Tbilisi in 1992 and was afforded a state funeral. He was 82.