Century-old proclamation of Georgia’s independence reenacted in Tbilisi
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A festive historical reenactment of the proclamation of Georgia’s independence exactly 100 years ago crowned the May 26 Independence Day celebrations in capital Tbilisi today.
At the National Youth and Children's Palace at 6 Rustaveli Avenue, the venue of the historic occasion on May 26, 1918, visitors were treated to a performance by a group of actors in a carefully restored event.
Cast in roles of members of the National Council of Georgia — the body that proclaimed the independence — their reconstruction of the momentous event in Georgian history was led by the historical figure of Noe Zhordania, chairman of its executive committee.
Historical figures of the National Council involved in the staging. Photo: Photo: Georgia’s PM press office.
Addressing the council, Zhordania’s persona read out his speech, restored based on official proceedings of the 1918 meeting and coincided with exact timings for its crucial moments.
It was launched at 4:50pm local time and preceded with a narrator introducing the visitors to the setting and its "42 members and 36 candidates” in attendance.
Zhordania’s persona announced the key moment of the meeting, the proclamation of independence of the fledgling state, at 5:10pm.
The National Council of Georgia, elected on 22 November 1917 by the National Congress of Georgia, today proclaims: since now, the Georgian people bear sovereign rights, and Georgia is a plenipotentiary, independent state,” the chairman declared to a celebratory applause.
He then read out the 11-point Act of Independence, with each article followed by a thunderous applause.
The original Act of Independence of Georgia exhibited at the palace. Photo: Photo: Georgia’s PM press office.
It outlined the newly born state as a democratic republic, its neutrality in international conflicts and aspiration for friendly relations to all countries.
Other points covered provision of civil and political rights for all its citizens and guaranteeing development opportunities for all ethnic groups within its territory, among other articles.
Its conclusion was capped with unanimous voting in favour of the independence before the event was rounded off.
Before the reenactment occasion, the historic exhibit of the original Act of Independence was displayed at the palace for foreign dignitaries visiting the theatrical show.
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