Draft:Vakhtang Makharoblishvili

Vakhtang Makharoblishvili

Vakhtang (Vato) Makharoblishvili (Georgian: ვახტანგ მახარობლიშვილი, romanized: vakht'ang makharoblishvili, born October 2, 1978) is a Georgian diplomat who served as the Ambassador of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Head of the Mission of Georgia to the European Union since June 2021.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

From 2016 to 2021, he also served as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (2016–2019) and the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (2019–2021).^[5]

Early life and education

Vato Makharoblishvili was born on October 2, 1978, in Tbilisi, to architect David Makharoblishvili and medical doctor Darejan Ghambashidze. In 1995, he graduated from Tbilisi Secondary School No. 55. During his studies, he spent one year (1993–1994) at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School in Massachusetts, USA.

He continued his studies at the Faculty of International Law and International Relations at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. In 1996, he also studied at Aarhus University (Denmark), Faculty of European Studies, as part of an exchange program. From 2001 to 2002, he studied at the Mediterranean Diplomatic Academy of the University of Malta, where he was a Master of Diplomacy (MDip). In 2003-2004, he obtained a Master's degree (LL.M.) in International Business Law from Leiden University (Netherlands).

Career

Vakhtang Makharoblishvili began working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia in 2000 as an Attaché at the Foreign Research and Analysis Center. Until 2005, he also held the positions of Second Secretary, Head of Division and Deputy Director of the Department for Relations with the European Union / Department for European Affairs and European Integration.

From 2005 to 2009, he continued his diplomatic service at the Mission of Georgia to the European Union / Embassy of Georgia in Belgium and Luxembourg, serving as a Senior Counselor. During this period, he contributed to negotiations for the signing of the Agreement on the Facilitation of Visa Procedures between Georgia and the European Union.

From 2012 to 2016, he worked as the Deputy Permanent Representative of Georgia to the UN, and from 2012 to 2013, he was the Chargé d'Affaires. During this period, in addition to his work on Georgia-UN relations agenda, he was involved in issues related to ensuring the non-recognition of the so-called independence of the occupied territories of Georgia. On July 12, 2013, he signed the Protocol "On the Establishment of Diplomatic and Consular Relations between Georgia and the Republic of Vanuatu" on behalf of Georgia.^[6] Through this Protocol Vanuatu confirmed its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and revoked its decision to recognize the so-called independence of occupied Abkhazia.^[7] In 2013, he was awarded the "Order of Honor" for his role in the non-recognition policy of Georgia.

From November 2016 to May 2021, he held the positions of the Deputy Minister and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. In this roles, his scope of work included issues related to Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as bilateral relations with the European countries, North and South America. Specifically, he was involved in the visa liberalization process with the European Union (effective from March 28, 2017); the establishment of the "Wardrop Strategic Dialogue with the United Kingdom and the "Dimitri Amilakhvari Georgian-French Dialogue" with France. Additionally, in 2018, his contributed to the establishment of the Georgian-German-French Triangle, a political dialogue format for discussing strategic issues with the foreign ministries of the two leading European countries.^[8] His involvement also contributed to the establishment of EU-Georgia high-level Strategic Security Dialogue. During his tenure as Deputy Minister/First Deputy Minister, he co-chaired the formats envisaged by the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership Charter as well as the relevant formats within the framework of Georgia-EU cooperation.^[9] He was also the National Coordinator of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM.

Vato Makharoblishvili and Charles Michel

Since June 2021, Makharoblishvili has served as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and Head of the Georgian Mission to the European Union. On March 3, 2022, he submitted Georgia's application for EU membership to the representative of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.^[10] During his tenure as Ambassador, Georgia was granted status of a candidate to EU membership on December 14, 2023. For his efforts in this process, he was awarded the "Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani Award" by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.^{[11] [12]}

In addition to his work on Georgia's EU accession,^[13] he supported bilateral relations with Belgium and Luxembourg. On 18 June 2025, Georgia’s first Honorary Consulate in Luxembourg was opened. ^[14] During his tenure, in 2023, Georgia was the host country of the Belgian cultural festival - "Europalia". During the festival, Georgia was represented by a diverse array of its culture outside the country.

Honours and ranks:

In 2013, Makharoblishvili received the "Order of Honor" for his role in Georgia's non-recognition policy regarding its occupied territories.^[15]

In 2023, he was awarded the "Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani Award" by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his efforts in the process of granting Georgia the status of EU membership candidate country.

Since 2021, he holds the rank of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

Personal life:

Family

Vato Makharoblishvili is married to Anastasiya Antonyuk, they have two children.

Languages:

He speaks English, Russian and French languages.

References

1. "Vakhtang Makharoblishvili appointed Georgia's Representative to the European Union". www.interpressnews.ge. 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
2. "Georgia Appoints New Brussels Envoy". Civil Georgia. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
3. Gotev, Georgi (2021-12-13). "Georgia wants 'new elements' in Eastern Partnership, its ambassador says". EURACTIV. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
4. "Belgium, Kingdom of". mfa.gov.ge. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
5. "Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Decries Russian Foreign Intelligence Statement". Civil Georgia. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
6. "საქართველოსა და ვანუატუს შორის დიპლომატიური და საკონსულო ურთიერთობები დამყარდა". www.interpressnews.ge (in Georgian). 2013-07-14. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
7. netgazeti.ge (2013-07-14). "საქართველოსა და ვანუატუს შორის დიპლომატიური და საკონსულო ურთიერთობები დამყარდა - Netgazeti". NETGAZETI.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 2025-02-26.
8. "ქართულ-გერმანულ-ფრანგული სამკუთხედის ფარგლებში, სამმხრივი კონსულტაციების მორიგი რაუნდი გაიმართა". www.interpressnews.ge (in Georgian). 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
9. "13th Round of EU-Georgia Human Rights Dialogue". Civil Georgia. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
10. "Georgia's official application for EU membership has been submitted to the Permanent Representative of France, the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union". www.interpressnews.ge. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
11. "ქართული დიპლომატიის დღე". 1TV (in Georgian). Retrieved 2025-08-14.
12. "საგარეო უწყებამ დიპლომატის დღისადმი მიძღვნილი ღონისძიება გამართა". mfa.gov.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 2025-08-14.
13. "Georgia_1 :: diplomatic-world-institute.com". www.diplomatic-world-institute.com. 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
14. "Georgia Opens 1st Honorary Consulate in Luxembourg". Chronicle.lu. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
15. netgazeti.ge (2013-07-14). "საქართველოსა და ვანუატუს შორის დიპლომატიური და საკონსულო ურთიერთობები დამყარდა - Netgazeti". NETGAZETI.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 2025-08-14.

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Categories:

• 1978 births
• Living people
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• Ambassadors of Georgia (country) to Belgium