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Vakhtang Kikabidze Died

  • 15.01.2023, 13:34

(Updated) The famous actor was 84 years old.

The famous movie star, singer, songwriter, film director, screenwriter and political figure Vakhtang Kikabidze died in Georgia at the age of 84.

The Georgian Mtavari Arkhi TV reported.

The actor was seriously ill in the last years of his life.

Kikabidze was born in 1938 in Tbilisi. In 1966, he made his film debut in the "Meeting in the Mountains" movie, and a year later he appeared in the "Don't Grieve!" movie by Georgiy Daneliya.

This earned him the Best Actor Award at the Cartagena International Film Festival. The next markable film was the "Melodies of Vera Quarter" movie. In 1977, the famous film "Mimino" was released, where the actor got the role of pilot Valentin Mizandari.

In addition to "Mimino", Vakhtang Kikabidze starred in such cult Soviet films as "The Lost Expedition" and the "TASS Is Authorized to Declare..." TV series.

During his life, Vakhtang Kikabidze was recognized as a People's Artist of the Georgian SSR, the Honored Artist of Ukraine, and he was the laureate of the USSR State Prize.

Since 2020, he has been a member of the Georgian Parliament of the 7th Convocation.

In 2008, after the outbreak of the Russian-Georgian war, Vakhtang Kikabidze refused the Russian Order of Friendship. In addition, Kikabidze canceled his anniversary concerts in Moscow, saying that he respects the Russian people, but due to Russia's military actions against Georgia, he cannot accept awards and give concerts.

In October 2014, in an interview with the Sehodnya Ukrainian newspaper, Kikabidze stated that “If I were young, I would also be in the ATO [anti-terrorist operation zone - ed.] to resist, defending the honour of the country,” and called President Putin “black power politician" and an "invader".

After the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation in February 2022, Vakhtang Kikabidze spoke out in support of Ukraine and condemned Russian aggression.

“I will always advocate the victory of Ukraine. And it will win this war. I don’t even doubt it,” said Kikabidze.

In his interviews, the actor repeatedly stated that he supports the Ukrainian people in the fight against the invaders.

“Cities were levelled to the ground. Nothing left. Not a single house. What else could be called genocide? When orphanages, kindergartens and maternity hospitals are exploding. I can’t turn my tongue,” Vakhtang Kikabidze commented on the Russian aggression.

In the summer of 2022, Vakhtang Kikabidze bought a minibus for the Ukrainian military at his own expense.

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