Famous Georgian actor Kikabidze dies after long illness

Georgian and Soviet actor Vakhtang Kikabidze has died after a long illness in Tbilisi, said the actor's producer Rati Abzianidze.

According to him, the actor had been suffering from health problems for a long time, as the Georgian broadcaster 1TV reported.

"I want to thank the hospital ... where he stayed for several weeks. I want to thank doctors and personnel who did everything they could, but unfortunately, we were powerless," the producer said.

A memorial service, according to preliminary information, will be held on January 19.

Kikabidze died at the age of 85.

Vakhtang "Buba" Kikabidze was born on July 19, 1938 in Tbilisi and was a Soviet singer, actor, screenwriter, producer, and composer. He performed in a number of films, among them the main role of a helicopter pilot in the iconic Soviet film Mimino.

The son of a Princess Bagration-Davitashvili, Kikabidze is a People's Artist of Georgia, has been awarded the USSR State Prize and the Order of the King Vakhtang Gorgasali as well as of Nikolai Wondermonger and Knight Cross of St. Konstantin the Great. He was also acknowledged by a number of various music contests and film festivals in Georgia, the former USSR, and worldwide. During the Soviet Union, Buba

Kikabidze was one of the rare public figures to make critical statements against the Communist government. During the 2008 Georgian-Russian conflict, he rejected the Order of Friendship bestowed upon him in July 2008 by President Dmitry Medvedev and canceled the concert dedicated to his 70th birthday which was to be held at the Kremlin as a protest against Russia's actions.

He has served in the Parliament of Georgia since 2020 as a "United National Movement" party member, formed by former President Mikheil Saakashvili.