In commemoration of the 9th of April, President Salome Zourabichvili granted poet and anti-Soviet militant Mikheil “Mikha” Khelashvili the title of National Hero of Georgia, and blind singer Lela Vepkhvadze the Medal of Honor.
Mrs. Vepkhvadze said in a speech at the Orbeliani Palace, “I want to thank all the people for this warmth, which I’ve always felt, the love of the people. I want to thank the President, my beloved President, and I want to say that I will try to give this award dignity.”
The Order of National Hero for Mikha Khelashvili was awarded to the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia, where his personal archive is preserved. In a speech, Library Resources Department Director Levan Taktakishvili said, “It is very important for me that the Order of National Hero is handed over to the National Library. His personal archive is preserved in the Library, as well as the picture that was taken after his death, after his funeral was banned. I’m glad to say that we’ve published the complete collection his work. Starting tomorrow, this Order will lay in the Museum of Books for all Georgians to see.”
