At the initiative of the President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili, Data Vanishvili will be awarded the Medal of Civil Dedication after his death, the press service of the Orbeliani Palace spreads information.
"The issue of awarding Data Vanishvili was discussed in the Presidential Administration immediately after his death. According to the President's initiative, Data Vanishvili will be awarded the Medal of Civil Dedication after his death. The award ceremony will be held on April 9 at the Orbeliani Palace," the statement reads.
Data Papa was buried in Khurvaleti yesterday.
Data Vanishvili's civil funeral was held at the dividing line for two days. Family members, government officials, civil activists, and politicians expressed their condolences to the deceased's wife.
As a result of the illegal "borderization" that started after the Russian-Georgian war in 2008, Vanishvili's house became occupied behind wire braids. Vanishvili refused to leave the house and lived with his wife and grandson beyond the dividing line for 12 years.
Data Papa was a resident of occupied Khurvaleti, who was most active in contact with international visitors. He did not recognize the de facto republic and stated that he was a citizen of Georgia and did not intend to give up his house. Data Papa himself has been arrested several times for contacting visitors at the dividing line and even attempting to cross it several times.
Data Papa has been seriously ill in recent months; his health condition has worsened several times. He died on March 19 at the age of 88. According to his wife, Valia Vanishvili, before his death, Data asked her not to leave their house in Khurvaleti.
