Former Georgian President dies in Tbilisi

Eduard Shevardnadze, who also headed the USSR Foreign Ministry, was 86 years old. Georgian political scientist Solomon Lebanidze answered questions from host Pyotr Kosenko on Kommersant FM.

Photo: Dmitry Azarov, Kommersant / buy photo

— Despite the fact that everyone knew that Eduard Amvrosievich was already quite an old man, this came as a big surprise, including in Russia. How did they take the news of his death in Georgia?

— In Georgia, society definitely has a very negative attitude towards Mr. Shevardnadze, unfortunately. But if we evaluate his activities, there were positive and negative moments for the history of Georgia.

— Did you personally know Eduard Amvrosievich? How can you evaluate it?

- No, I didn’t know him personally, but I am very familiar with his activities in Georgia, what he did, what he did, where he had interests.

— We all know what Eduard Amvrosievich was doing before 2003. In just over 10 years since he left the post of head of state, what has he been doing? In general, he was somehow in the shadows, as far as I remember.

— After 2003, Eduard Amvrosievich promised the society to write his memoirs and did this, wrote his memoirs. Then he was ill from old age and did not participate in the social and political life of Georgia.

— If we recall the events of 2008, how did Eduard Shevardnadze assess the war in South Ossetia and the activities of the Georgian and Russian authorities?

— In general, Eduard Amvrosievich spoke negatively about the war, but already during this period he was ill, and his statements no longer reflected the reality that actually took place. He was ill and, based on this, he could not actively make statements.

— At what level will the farewell to Eduard Shevardnadze take place? How will the country's current top officials evaluate his activities? Will it be a state funeral?

“I can’t say anything because information about his death has spread only recently, and I think there should be honor.” As the old president of Georgia, he should be buried with honor. Since Georgia is a democratic state, and succession should be between presidents, this is normal, this really should be the case.

“After 2003, Eduard Shevardnadze was engaged in writing memoirs”