Georgia’s Parliament Speaker remembers ex-President

The Speaker of Georgia’s Parliament is remembering a former Georgian leader whose name is synonymous with many important regional events.

Speaking from Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili said Georgia’s ex-President Eduard Shevardnadze – who died earlier today – was a man who was involved in many events and people throughout the country regarded these events differently.

Usupashvili said despite some not agreeing with Shevardnadze’s actions, he was still a former leader of the country and should be respected.

"But he was Georgia’s President, a leader of the country for many years. Here, in Baku, his name is connected to the projects like Baku-Tbilisi-Jeihan and others. He is being remembered with gratitude,” Usupashvili said.

"Mr Eduard had certain discoveries in his political career. Unfortunately, it was not so in all fields. Now it is not time to assess his political activities, because a man has died and I express my condolences to his family and close people. In the cases like this, the state should ensure the former President is honoured as he deserves to be and I am confident this will happen.”