The message reads, in part:
“The name and entire life of this great son of the Georgian people, this public figure, poet, thinker and patron of the arts, were closely bound to Russia. It was here at St Petersburg that he was educated and formed his character. In his creative work and multifaceted activity, Ivan Chavchavadze made a truly invaluable contribution to developing Russian culture and preserving and enriching the wonderful traditions of friendship and good-neighbourliness that have always bound our peoples.
It is important that today’s citizens of Russia and Georgia honour their ancestors’ memory and do much to strengthen our humanitarian ties, build sincere and trusting relations between people, and help to develop the institutions of people’s diplomacy.”