Georgia Independence Day celebration in Ljubljana

On May 26, 2026, a ceremonial reception dedicated to Georgia’s Independence Day was held at the Slovenian Philharmonic Hall in Slovenia. The reception was attended by representatives of the legislative and executive authorities of the Republic of Slovenia, members of the diplomatic corps accredited in the country, representatives of international organizations, academic and cultural circles, the media, and the Georgian diaspora.
During the ceremonial event, the national anthems of Georgia and the Republic of Slovenia were performed. Georgian and Slovenian musical compositions were presented by Gigi Chipashvili (PianoMan), while a hymn by the Patriarch Ilia II was performed by Liza (Lizi) Svanidze.
The guests were addressed by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia, Konstantine Surguladze. In his speech, he spoke about the historical significance of the national day and the importance of this celebration for the Georgian people. The Ambassador emphasized the 3,000-year history of Georgian statehood and the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity being declared the state religion of Georgia. According to him, throughout the centuries Georgia has strived to preserve its faith, native language, statehood, and traditions despite occupations and constant geopolitical challenges.
Speaking about the events of May 26, 1918, as a defining period in modern history, the Ambassador highlighted that Georgia successfully built an extraordinarily progressive state and laid the foundations for democratic principles that remain ambitious even by today’s standards, drawing their roots from Georgia’s historical heritage and political and cultural traditions formed over centuries.
The Ambassador also spoke about the cooperation between Ljubljana and Tbilisi, as well as between Kutaisi and Maribor. At the end of his speech, in recognition of his contribution to promoting Georgian culture in Slovenia, the Ambassador presented a certificate of appreciation from the Embassy of Georgia to Georgia’s friend, Professor Silvo Torkar.