Zaza Bibilashvili: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Zaza Bibilashvili |url=http://www.nplg.gov.ge/bios/en/00018788/ |website=Georgian Biographical Dictionary}}</ref>.

In addition to his native Georgian, he speaks fluent English, Russian, basic French and Spanish.

== Legal Career ==

Bibilashvili began his legal career with Georgian Consulting Group (GCG) in 1995.<ref name=":1" />. 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.<ref name=":1" />.

In 2005, Bibilashvili founded BGI Legal.<ref name="auto2" />. He has been recognized by legal directories for his work in the field.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Zaza Bibilashvili |url=https://chambers.com/lawyer/zaza-bibilashvili-europe-7:311343 |website=Chambers and Partners}}</ref>. Bibilashvili has served as an arbitrator in international arbitrations<ref name=":2" /> and was a member of the Georgian Bar Association's Executive Board from 2009 to 2013.<ref name="auto2" />.

During 2009-2010, Bibilashvili served as a member of the State Constitutional Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=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 |url=https://www.matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/46282?publication=0 |website=Legislative Herald of Georgia}}</ref>.

Bibilashvili was one of the original founders of the Association of Georgian Law Firms,[https://alfg.ge/en/%E1%83%A8%E1%83%94%E1%83%AE%E1%83%95%E1%83%94%E1%83%93%E1%83%A0%E1%83%90/] and served on the Board of AGLF between 2014 and 2017, where he headed Georgia’s first ever [[pro bono]] initiative.

== Politics ==

Bibilashvili entered Georgian politics in 2013, joining the ''[[United National Movement (Georgia)|United National Movement]]'' (UNM) during a period of political change after the defeat of this party in October 2012 parliamentary elections in Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coalson |first=Robert |title=Out Of Power, Georgia's United National Movement Seeks New Role |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-saakashvili-party-future/25165828.html |website=Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty}}</ref>. He rose to become Vice Chair of the party's Political Council but resigned in 2020.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=რატომ დატოვეს ენმ ზაზა ბიბილაშვილმა, მარიამ გერსამიამ და ნინო კალანდაძემ |url=https://publika.ge/article/ratom-toveben-enm-s-zaza-bibilashvili-mariam-gersamia-da-nino-kalandadze/}}</ref>. His political work included advocating against Russian influence in Georgia and promoting Western democratic values.

== Public activities ==

Bibilashvili co-founded the Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education in 2018.<ref name=":0" />. The Center aims to promote active citizenship, civic engagement, and democratic values in Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mission and Goals |url=https://chavchavadzecenter.ge/en/mission-and-goals |website=Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education}}</ref>. 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title="ჭავჭავაძის ცენტრის" რუბრიკა "სამოქალაქო მეხსიერება" გადაცემაში "შენი შუადღე", მთავარი არხი |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLBgFOzQZlAOS8xAEI-7YHhXybR8soAxBq |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref>. Additionally, the Center aids vulnerable groups and active citizens in identifying and countering Russian disinformation by recognizing it and developing effective counternarratives.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DIVERSE |url=https://chavchavadzecenter.ge/en/projects/2236-proeqti-diverse |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=chavchavadzecenter.ge |language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |title=On the Frontline - Countering Disinformation in Georgia |url=https://chavchavadzecenter.ge/en/projects/2104-dezinphormaciis-tsinaaghmdeg-brdzola |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=chavchavadzecenter.ge |language=en}}</ref>.

He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the quarterly magazine ''Akhali Iveria'' since 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Akhali Iveria |url=https://www.akhaliiveria.ge/en |website=www.akhaliiveria.ge}}</ref>. 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=chavchavadze center |url=https://www.youtube.com/@chavchavadzecenter |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref>.

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 ===

Bibilashvili co-founded the Georgian Richard Wagner Society in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kharbedia |first=Malkhaz |title=Books about Richard Wagner |url=https://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/tsignebi-rihard-vagnerze/25059398.html |website=Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty}}</ref>. The Society has translated and published four books related to Wagner's work into Georgian.

== Personal life ==