Georgians in France

There were fewer than 2,000 ethnic Georgians in France from 1922 to 1939 but around 10,000 (500 students, 2,000 asylum refugees and 8,000 legal residents) at the end of 2013.[1]

Georgians in France

Total population
10,000
Regions with significant populations
Paris (Metropolitan Area), Toulouse, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux
Languages
French, Georgian
Religion
Georgian Orthodox Church

Notable people

People associated with the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918–1921)

• Razhden Arsenidze (1880–1965), minister
• Nikolay Chkheidze (1864–1926), president of Parliament
• Akaki Chkhenkeli (1874–1959), minister
• Benia Chkhikvishvili (1881–1924), politician
• Kakutsa Cholokashvili (1888–1930), colonel
• Revaz Gabashvili (1882–1969), writer and politician
• Evgeni Gegechkori (1881–1954), minister
• Giorgi Gvazava (1869–1941), politician
• Valiko Jugheli (1887–1924), politician
• Noe Khomeriki (1883–1924), minister
• Giorgi Kvinitadze (1874–1970), military commander
• Vlasa Mgeladze (1868–1943), politician
• Samson Pirtskhalava (1972–1952), vice-president of Parliament[2]
• Noe Ramishvili (1881–1930), president of Government
• Ekvtime Takaishvili (1863–1953), vice-president of Parliament
• Irakli Tsereteli (1881–1959), minister
• Mikheil Tsereteli (1878–1965), politician
• Grigol Uratadze (1880–1959), politician
• Noe Zhordania (1868–1953), president of Government

People born in Russia, Georgia or USSR

• Goudji Amachoukeli (1941–), goldsmith
• Dimitri Amilakhvari (1906–1942), colonel of French Army
• Constantin Andronikof (1916–1997), interpreter, translator and writer
• Géla Babluani (1979–), film director
• Djémal Bjalava (1944–), sculptor[3]
• Ekaterine Dadiani (1816–1882), Princess
• Salome Dadiani (1848–1913), Princess
• Mary Eristavi (1888–1968), Princess
• Thorniké Gordadzé (1975–), political scientist
• Mamuka Gorgodze (1984–), rugby player
• Otar Iosseliani (1934–), film director
• Bidzina Ivanishvili (1956–), businessman and politician
• Alexandre Jioshvili (1975–), volleyball player[4]
• Nino Kirtadzé (1968–), film director[5]
• Jaba Kankava (1986–), football player
• Elie Mélia (1915–1988), priest
• Maria Meriko (1920–1994), actress[6]
• Michel Mouskhely (1903–1964), political scientist and jurist
• Victoria Ravva (1975–), volleyball player
• Viktor Sanikidze (1986–), basketball player
• Omar Tourmanaouli (1959–2019), writer and translator[7]
• Giorgi Tsintsadze (1986–), basketball player
• Ilia Zedginidze (1977–), rugby player
• Levan Zourabichvili (1906–1975), president of Association géorgienne en France

People born in France

• Maryam d'Abo (1960–), actress
• Alex Abouladzé (1945–1978), poet[8]
• Marie Amachoukeli (1979–), film director
• Ketevan Bagration of Mukhrani (1954–), ambassador of Georgia
• Gaston Bouatchidzé (1935–), writer and translator
• Hélène Carrère d'Encausse (1929–), permanent secretary of the Académie française,
• Florian Chakiachvili (1992–), ice hockey player,
• Georges Charachidzé (1930–2010), scholar of the Caucasian cultures,
• Serge Davri (1919–2012), actor[9]
• Artchil Davrichachvili (1955–), priest[10]
• Irakli Davrichewy (1940–), jazzman[11]
• Kéthévane Davrichewy (1965–), writer[12]
• Patricia Eligoulachvili (1958–), actress[13]
• Raphaël Eligoulachvili, musician[14]
• Guy Kédia (1934–2016), journalist[15]
• Claude de Kemoularia (1922–2016), ambassador of France
• Luc Melua (1936–2010), motorist and journalist
• Mirian Melua, engineer and journalist
• Ethéry Pagava (1932–), prima ballerina[16]
• Patrick Topaloff (1944–2010), comedian, singer and actor
• Dimitri Yachvili (1980–), rugby union footballer
• Grégoire Yachvili (1977–), rugby union footballer[17]
• Michel Yachvili (1946–), rugby union footballer
• François Zourabichvili (1965–2006), philosopher
• Nicolas Zourabichvili (1936–), composer[18]
• Salomé Zourabichvili (1952–), President of Georgia

Religion

Saint Nino Georgian Orthodox Church, founded in 1929, in Paris, dépends on Ecumenical Patriarcate of Constantinople through the Conference of Orthodox Bishops in France.[19]

Saint Thamar Georgian Orthodox Church, founded in 2005, in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges (outside of Paris), depends on Georgian Orthodox Church.

See also

• France–Georgia relations
• Georgian–French day of Leuville-sur-Orge

External links

• (in French) and (Georgian) Georgian Embassy in France
• (in French) and (Georgian) Private Website on Georgian diaspora in France

References

1. (in French) Interview de l'Ambassadeur de Géorgie en France. Archived 2014-12-14 at the Wayback Machine.
2. Samson Pirtskhalava.
3. (in French) Djémal Bjalava.
4. (in French) Alexandre Jioshvili.
5. (in French) Nino Kirtadzé.
6. (in French) Maria Meriko.
7. (in French)Omar Tourmanaouli.
8. (in French) Alex Abouladzé.
9. (in French) Serge Davri.
10. (in French) Artchil Davrichachvili.
11. (in French) Irakli Davrichewy.
12. (in French) Kéthévane Davrichewy.
13. (in French) Patricia Elioulachvili.
14. (in French) Raphael Eligoulachvili;
15. (in French) Guy Kédia.
16. (in French) Ethéry Pagava.
17. (in French) Grégoire Yachvili.
18. (in French) Nicolas Zourabichvili.
19. (Georgian) Sainte Nino Georgian Orthodox Church in Paris.