Zaza Bibilashvili
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Zaza Bibilashvili (Georgian: ზაზა ბიბილაშვილი; born August 16, 1974) is a Georgian lawyer, writer, publicist and politician. He is the cofounder and chairman of the Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education,[1] the founder and Senior Partner of BGI Legal,[2] and Chairman of the Georgian Richard Wagner Society.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Bibilashvili was born in Tbilisi, Georgia. He attended Secondary School #55 in Tbilisi and the experimental music school at Tbilisi State Conservatoire. In 1989, he participated in a one-year study program in the United States, attending Bennett High School and the Calasanctius School in Buffalo, New York.
Bibilashvili studied international law at Tbilisi State University from 1990 to 1995. During this period, he also attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia on a Georgia Rotary Student Program scholarship (1993-1994) and Canisius University in Buffalo, New York, where he earned a B.A. in international relations and French in 1995[4].
In addition to his native Georgian, he speaks fluent English, Russian, basic French and Spanish.
Legal Career
[edit]Bibilashvili began his legal career with Georgian Consulting Group (GCG) in 1995[4]. He became the director of GCG Law in 2000 and continued as director of EY Law Tbilisi following GCG's acquisition by Ernst & Young in 2002[4].
In 2005, Bibilashvili founded BGI Legal[2]. He has been recognized by legal directories for his work in the field[5]. Bibilashvili has served as an arbitrator in international arbitrations[5] and was a member of the Georgian Bar Association's Executive Board from 2009 to 2013[2].
During 2009-2010, Bibilashvili served as a member of the State Constitutional Commission[6].
Bibilashvili was one of the original founders of the Association of Georgian Law Firms,[1] and served on the Board of AGLF between 2014 and 2017, where he headed Georgia’s first ever pro bono initiative.
Politics
[edit]Bibilashvili entered Georgian politics in 2013, joining the United National Movement (UNM) during a period of political change after the defeat of this party in October 2012 parliamentary elections in Georgia[7]. He rose to become Vice Chair of the party's Political Council but resigned in 2020[8]. His political work included advocating against Russian influence in Georgia and promoting Western democratic values.
Public activities
[edit]Bibilashvili co-founded the Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education in 2018[3]. The Center aims to promote active citizenship, civic engagement, and democratic values in Georgia[9]. Its Civic Memory Program focuses on the first half of Georgia’s independence period, providing a comprehensive historical perspective to help youth and others form objective judgments about the political context and alternatives of that era[10]. Additionally, the Center aids vulnerable groups and active citizens in identifying and countering Russian disinformation by recognizing it and developing effective counternarratives[11] [12].
He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the quarterly magazine Akhali Iveria since 2022[13]. The Center has produced documentaries on Georgian history and current affairs, including a series on Georgia from 1991 to 2003 and a documentary on disinformation narratives related to Soviet nostalgia[14].
Bibilashvili has authored several books and reports on Georgian politics and society. He frequently speaks at national and international forums and has served as a lecturer for various organizations on topics such as civic memory, political parties, and public speaking.
Wagner Society
[edit]Bibilashvili co-founded the Georgian Richard Wagner Society in 2013[15]. The Society has translated and published four books related to Wagner's work into Georgian.
Personal life
[edit]Bibilashvili is married to Nino Kalandadze . He has six children from three marriages.[citation needed]
Honors and awards
[edit]- Will Watt Fellow (1994)[16][third-party source needed]
- Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International (1995)[16][third-party source needed]
- Order of Honors, Georgia (2012)[citation needed]
Publications
[edit]Bibilashvili has authored books as well as reports with the focus on Georgia and Georgia politics, as well as fiction novels, short stories and essays.
Fiction
[edit]- Bibilashvili, Zaza (2023). Delirium. Publishing House Intellect. ISBN 9789941316098.
- Bibilashvili, Zaza (2019). Ten-Second Dreams. Publishing House Intellect. ISBN 9789941482724.
- Bibilashvili, Zaza (2014). Drusilla. Bakur Sulakauri Publishing.
Books
[edit]- Bibilašvili, Zaza (2023). K̕art̕uli matric̕a: politikuri publistika: dialogebi. T̕bilisi: Gamomc̕emloba Intelek̕ti. ISBN 9789941316081.
- Bibilashvili, Zaza (2020). In a Slightly More Self-Respecting Country. Publishing House Intellect.[citation needed].[citation needed]
Reports
[edit]- Kalandadze, Nino; Bibilashvili, Zaza; Jokhadze, Giorgi; Kharebava, Giorgi (2023). The Time to Gather Stones: Overcoming Georgia's Two-party Divide (PDF) (Report). Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education. ISBN 9789941861482.
- Bibilashvili, Zaza; Kharebava, Giorgi; Jokhadze, Giorgi; Kalandadze, Nino (2023). On the Frontline: Countering Disinformation in Georgia (PDF) (Report). Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education. ISBN 9789941859915.
- კრიტიკული აზროვნება, მართლმსაჯულება და მოქალაქეობა [Critical Thinking, Justice and Citizenship] (PDF) (Report). Center for European Studies and Civic Education. 2022. ISBN 9789941504235.
- Gersamia, Mariam; Japaridze, Gaioz; Kalandadze, Nino; Kharebava, Giorgi; Jokhadze, Giorgi (2020). Bibilashvili, Zaza (ed.). Intra-party Democracy in Georgia (PDF) (Report). Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education. ISBN 9789941312830.
- Kharebava, Giorgi; Jokhadze, Giorgi; Japaridze, Gia; Kalandadze, Nino (2022). Bibilashvili, Zaza (ed.). Causes of the Intra-party Democracy Deficit in Georgia (PDF) (Report). Tbilisi: Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education.
- Jokhadze, Giorgi; Kharebava, Giorgi; Japaridze, Gia; Kalandadze, Nino (2020). Bibilashvili, Zaza (ed.). Consequences of Deficit of Intra-party Democracy in Georgia (PDF) (Report). Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education.
- Khutsishvili, Teimuraz; Kalandadze, Nino; Japaridze, Gaioz; Jokhadze, Giorgi; Kharebava, Giorgi (2020). Bibilashvili, Zaza (ed.). Liberalism and Georgia (PDF) (Report). Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education. ISBN 9789941312922.
- Bibilashvili, Zaza, Paitchadze David (2014) – The Ivanishvili Calendar
References
[edit]- ^ "Board". chavchavadzecenter.ge.
- ^ a b c "Zaza Bibilashvili". BGI Legal.
- ^ a b "გამგეობა". www.chavchavadzecenter.ge.
- ^ a b c "Zaza Bibilashvili". Georgian Biographical Dictionary.
- ^ a b "Zaza Bibilashvili". Chambers and Partners.
- ^ "Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia "On making an addition to the Constitution of Georgia" on the publication of the draft of the Georgian constitutional law and the creation of the organizing commission for its universal public review". Legislative Herald of Georgia.
- ^ Coalson, Robert. "Out Of Power, Georgia's United National Movement Seeks New Role". Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty.
- ^ "რატომ დატოვეს ენმ ზაზა ბიბილაშვილმა, მარიამ გერსამიამ და ნინო კალანდაძემ".
- ^ "Mission and Goals". Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education.
- ^ ""ჭავჭავაძის ცენტრის" რუბრიკა "სამოქალაქო მეხსიერება" გადაცემაში "შენი შუადღე", მთავარი არხი". YouTube. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
- ^ "DIVERSE". chavchavadzecenter.ge. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
- ^ "On the Frontline - Countering Disinformation in Georgia". chavchavadzecenter.ge. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
- ^ "Akhali Iveria". www.akhaliiveria.ge.
- ^ "chavchavadze center". YouTube. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ Kharbedia, Malkhaz. "Books about Richard Wagner". Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty.
- ^ a b "Zaza Bibilashvili". BGI Legal. Retrieved 5 September 2024.