Georgian third Mikheil Saakashvili has posted a photo with late Georgian painter and producer Rezo Gabriadze and wrote a caption.
''Legendary Rezo Gabriadze _ the pride of Kutaisi and entire Georgia_ has left us.
I have known him since childhood, and I have taken pride in knowing him.
When I became the governor of Odessa, I appreciated him even more, as everyone knew his name and used his quotes when they conversed with me.
He was an iconic Georgian artist, which we probably failed to appreciate properly,'' the ex-president wrote.
Georgian painter and producer Rezo Gabriadze passed aged 84 on 6 June.