On March 29, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) hosted a presentation of a biography book “Iwan Kraskowski in Service to Belarus and Ukraine” about Iwan Kraskowski, the first Ukrainian diplomat in Georgia, the first consular, founder of the Embassy of Ukraine to the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1919-1921).

Rector of TSU, George Sharvashidze, Ambassador of Poland to Georgia, Mariusz Maszkiewicz, Ambassador of Lithuania to Georgia, Andrius Kalindra, First Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine to Georgia for Cultural and Humanitarian Issues, Tetiana Kolotylova, Polish, Ukrainian, Lithuanian and Georgian professors, students attended the event.

In 1919, Iwan Kraskowski, a public and political figure, spearheaded Ukraine’s extraordinary diplomatic mission in the Caucasus. During two years, he coordinated Ukraine’s political, economic and consular relations in Georgia. He also worked in Poland, Belarus and Lithuania. After Soviet Russia occupied these countries, Kraskowski was permanently persecuted by the Soviet authorities. The presented book covers his educational, political, economic and diplomatic activities.

The participants of the event responded to recent developments in Ukraine, namely Russia’s aggression, with the Ukrainian anthem performed by TSU Choir and extended solidarity with Ukraine.

“Iwan Kraskowski had a very interesting biography. He was uniting the nations – he worked in Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Lithuania and Poland. He was fighting for independence,” Rector George Sharvashidze said, adding that Tbilisi State University will begin translating the book “Iwan Kraskowski in Service to Belarus and Ukraine”. 

Ambassador of Poland to Georgia, Mariusz Maszkiewicz said that Iwan Kraskowski, who was born in Poland, spent his whole life in fighting for democratic values. He noted that Kraskowski struggled for Ukraine’s independence that is still relevant at this historical moment. Moreover, he spent two years in Georgia and cooperated with the Noe Zhordania government. The Ambassador added that Kraskowski left a lot of interesting letters, documents and memoirs.

Ambassador of Lithuania to Georgia, Andrius Kalindra said that free nations and free people are still standing in front of Russia. He also noted that Iwan Kraskowski, who was a public and political figure of Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania and Belarus, served the country and not the regime, adding that he dedicated his whole life to freedom. Ambassador Kalindra stressed that Russia’s actions pose a threat to the region and free citizens, and therefore, people should believe in their key value – freedom.

Tetiana Kolotylova, First Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine to Georgia for Cultural and Humanitarian Issues, hailed the event as very important for both Ukraine and Georgia. She noted that Iwan Kraskowski made a huge contribution to the issues of studying cultural heritage. Kolotylova expressed hope that the book would be released in Ukraine and presentation would be held at the University of Kiev as soon as the hostilities were over.

The book about Iwan Kraskowski was presented by Dorota Michaluk, Professor of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. A number of speakers presented their papers to the event. Iryna Matiash, one of the authors of the book and a representative of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, who fled to Poland following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, joined the event remotely from Warsaw.

Rector Sharvashidze awarded the University Medal to Mariam Filina, head of the Department of Slavic Literature of the Institute of Slavic Studies at the TSU Faculty of Humanities for her multiyear and fruitful pedagogical and scientific activities as well as her important contribution to the issues of internationalization.

By the end of the event, Polish Ambassador Mariusz Maszkiewicz handed over Polish literature and Polish textbooks to the TSU Library.

The event was organized by the Embassy of Poland to Georgia, the TSU Institute of Slavic Studies and the TSU Center of Polish Studies.