Mikheil Chkhenkeli: “I express my deep sorrow over the death of the great Georgian scientist and public figure, Tamaz Gamkrelidze.

Mr. Gamkrelidze was a world-renowned Georgian linguist and researcher who made a name for himself as a Georgian linguist. His work on the alphabetic system of writing and the old Georgian script, which is an incomparable example of large-scale research, is invaluable.

Tamaz Gamkrelidze was the first full Georgian member of the European Academy and was also elected an Honorary Foreign Member of the British, Austrian, Saxon Academies of Science, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was the President of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences and its Honorary President for the rest of his life.

His seventy years of scientific and pedagogical activity at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University are invaluable. He was the rector of Tbilisi State University, as well as a member of the Advisory Board, who raised several generations. Tamaz Gamkrelidze made an especially important contribution to the restoration and development of Georgian statehood, and he signed the Act of Restoration of State Independence on April 9, 1991.

Tamaz Gamkrelidze was a member of many international organizations, holder of national and foreign awards, including: for his selfless service to Alma-Mater, received the Jubilee Medal of Tbilisi State University and the medals of Ivane Javakhishvili.