State Minister for Reconciliation attends the opening of the 13th Nikozi International Animation Festival

State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Tea Akhvlediani attended the opening ceremony of the Nikozi International Animation Festival in the village of Nikozi, Gori Municipality, Shida Kartli region.

According to the Office of the State Minister, Tea Akhvlediani delivered a welcome address to attendees at the official opening of the thirteenth annual festival. She spoke about the significance of hosting an international-scale festival in the village of Nikozi. The State Minister highlighted the vital role that art and cultural initiatives play in peacebuilding and restoring trust among communities divided by war.

As the head of a partner and supporting state agency, Akhvlediani expressed her special gratitude to the Metropolitan of Nikozi and Tskhinvali, His Eminence Isaia, and to the Nikozi Art School for organising the festival.

“This year, the Nikozi International Festival is dedicated to one of the most significant milestones in Georgia’s historical development: the 1700th anniversary of Christianity being declared the state religion.

Rooted in Christian values and an unshakable belief in peacebuilding, the festival’s founders transformed the ruins of war into a thriving cultural hub, sending a clear message of peace across the occupation lines. I believe that strengthening peace and securing a dignified future are equally vital for our Ossetian and Abkhazian compatriots. This is precisely what our peace initiatives and state policy serve: that through the restoration of trust, the strengthening of peace, and genuine reconciliation, we may overcome our shared pain, reunite our people, protect our common history and culture together, and build our shared future hand in hand,” stated State Minister Tea Akhvlediani.

Representatives of the diplomatic corps and local authorities also attended the opening event.

Established in 2011, the Nikozi Festival has drawn visitors from several countries around the globe. Running from 11 to 16 October, the festival programme features screenings of films by Georgian and international directors, alongside art exhibitions, classical music evenings, and folklore concerts.