Director of Pirosmani’s Museum Removed from the List of Honorable Citizens of Dedoplistskaro

Anzor Madzgarashvili – director of the Georgian Painter Niko Pirosmanashvili’s Museum was removed from the list of honored citizens of Dedoplistskaro after he made critical comments with the Information Center of Kakheti.

On October 21, Anzor Madzgarashvili told the ICK that Georgia does not deserve to have a painter like Pirosmani.

“The road towards the Pirosmani Museum has been damaged for several years already. We get to the museum by roundabouts; even tourists do not visit the museum because of the problem. Pirosmani’s portrait was on the 1 GEL banknote but they removed the note from circulation. Georgia does not deserve to have a painter like Pirosmani,” said Anzor Madzgarashvili.

According to the verified information, the local authority intended to grant the status of Dedoplistsaro’s honorable citizens to five people on October 22, Pirosmani’s Holiday. On the evening of October 21, Anzor Madzgarashvili was removed from the list but other four people received the status.

“I did not know about my removal from the list and I am not sorry about it at all. Why do I need their awards; moreover I live in Mirzaani [and not in Dedoplistskaro]. I am grateful to you for having published my comment and it is very nice if somebody got offended with it. I did not lie. They should not have removed 1 GEL banknote with Pirosmani’s portrait on it from circulation. I am glad if they have really removed me from the list,” Anzor Madzgarashvili told the ICK.

Dedoplistskaro district governor Nikoloz Shanshiashvili does not confirm the fact about Anzor Madgazarashvili’s removal from the list of honorable citizens. “We could award maximum five people and we selected only four of them. We did not remove Anzor Madzgarashvili from the list,” said the governor.

Surgeon Bela Gogiberidze, head of GTZ Project Dither Muller, wrestler Anzor Martkoplishvili and head of PSP Pharmacy Network Gocha Gogilashvili were awarded with the status of Dedoplistskaro’s Honorable Citizens.

ICK