Nino Burjanadze
Who was Nino Burjanadze?
Former Speaker of the Georgian Parliament (2001-2008) who served as Acting President during the Rose Revolution period.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Nino Burjanadze (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Nino Burjanadze is a Georgian politician and lawyer born on July 16, 1964, in Kutaisi, Georgia. She studied law at Tbilisi State University and Moscow State University, which laid the groundwork for her career in politics and public service. Her legal education played a key role in her political roles and her work as a university teacher.
Burjanadze's political career peaked when she served as Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia from November 2001 to June 2008. She made history as the first woman to act as head of state of Georgia, doing so on two occasions. Her first stint as acting president was from November 23, 2003, to January 25, 2004, after Eduard Shevardnadze resigned during the Rose Revolution. She took on the role again from November 25, 2007, to January 20, 2008, after Mikheil Saakashvili stepped down for an early presidential election.
The Rose Revolution was a key period in Burjanadze's career, as she helped provide stability during a time of major political changes in Georgia. Her leadership during these transitions showed her constitutional knowledge and political skill. Over time, her relationship with the political scene changed, leading her to leave the ruling coalition and start an opposition movement.
In 2008, Burjanadze founded the Democratic Movement – United Georgia party, becoming a leader of the opposition to Saakashvili's government. This marked a major shift in her political path, moving from a prominent figure in the Rose Revolution government to one of its critics. Her opposition efforts led her to run for president in the 2013 election, where she came third with 10 percent of the vote out of 23 candidates. Throughout her career, she has stayed involved in academia as a university teacher, balancing her political work with teaching. She is married to Badri Bitsadze.
Before Fame
Burjanadze grew up during the Soviet era in Georgia when the country was part of the USSR and political opportunities were limited by the one-party system. Her legal education at both Tbilisi State University and Moscow State University placed her within the educated elite of Soviet Georgia, giving her the credentials needed for professional advancement.
The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 opened new doors for political involvement in the newly independent Georgia. The 1990s were filled with civil wars, economic instability, and political chaos under Eduard Shevardnadze's leadership. This turmoil allowed new political figures to step in, and Burjanadze's legal background made her well-suited for the constitutional and legislative challenges facing the young democracy.
Key Achievements
- First woman to serve as acting President of Georgia, holding the position twice during constitutional transitions
- Served as Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia for nearly seven years from 2001 to 2008
- Provided constitutional continuity during the Rose Revolution period following Eduard Shevardnadze's resignation
- Founded and led the Democratic Movement – United Georgia opposition party
- Finished third in the 2013 Georgian presidential election with 10 percent of the vote
Did You Know?
- 01.She served as acting president of Georgia twice, making her the only person to hold the position on multiple separate occasions
- 02.During her 2013 presidential campaign, she was one of 23 candidates competing for the presidency, representing one of the largest fields in Georgian electoral history
- 03.Her surname Burjanadze comes from the Georgian word 'burja' meaning storm or tempest
- 04.She was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Georgian Parliament in the country's modern history
- 05.Her transition from ruling party leader to opposition figure occurred within the same decade, reflecting the volatile nature of Georgian politics in the 2000s