Georgians in France

Georgians in France

Total population
(10 000)
Regions with significant populations
Paris (Metropolitan Area), Toulouse, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux
Languages
French, Georgian
Religion
Georgian Orthodox Church

Ethnic Georgians in France were

- less than 2 000 from 1922 to 1939,

- around 10 000 (500 students, 2 000 asylum refugees and 8 000 legal residents) at the end of 2013.

Notable people

People associated with the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918-1921)

• Razhden Arsenidze (1880-1965), minister
• Nikolay Chkheidze (1864-1926), president of Parliament
• Akaki Chkhenkeli (1874-1959), minister
• Benia Chkhikvishvili (1881-1924), politician
• Kakutsa Cholokashvili (1888-1930), colonel
• Evgeni Gegechkori (1881-1954), minister
• Giorgi Gvazava (1869-1941), politician
• Valiko Jugheli (1887-1924), politician
• Noe Khomeriki (1883-1924), minister
• Giorgi Kvinitadze (1974-1970), military commander
• Vlasa Mgeladze (1868-1943), politician
• Noe Ramishvili (1881-1930), president of Government
• Ekvtime Takaishvili (1863-1953), vice-president of Parliament
• Irakli Tsereteli (1881-1959), minister
• Mikheil Tsereteli (1878-1965), politician
• Grigol Uratadze (1880-1959), politician
• Noe Zhordania (1868-1953), president of Government

People born in Russia, Georgia or USSR

• Goudji Amachoukeli (1941-), goldsmith
• Dimitri Amilakhvari (1906-1942), colonel of French Army
• Constantin Andronikof (1916-1997), interpreter, translator and writer
• Géla Babluani (1979-), film director
• Djémal Bjalava (1944-), sculptor
• Thorniké Gordadzé (1975-), political scientist
• Mamuka Gorgodze (1984-), rugby union footballer
• Otar Iosseliani (1934-), film director
• Alexandre Jioshvili (1975-), volleyball player
• Nino Kirtadzé (1968-), film director
• Elie Mélia (1915-1988), priest
• Michel Mouskhely (1903-1964), political scientist and jurist
• Victoria Ravva (1975-), volleyball player

People born in France

• Maryam d'Abo (1960-), actress
• Alex Abouladzé (1945-1978), poet
• Marie Amachoukeli (1979-), film director
• Ketevan Bagration of Mukhrani (1954-), ambassador of Georgia
• Gaston Bouatchidzé (1935-), writer and translator
• Hélène Carrère d'Encausse (1929-), permanent secretary of the Académie française,
• Florian Chakiachvili (1992-), ice hockey player,
• Georges Charachidzé (1930-2010), scholar of the Caucasian cultures,
• Serge Davri (1919-2012), actor
• Artchil Davrichachvili (1955-), priest
• Irakli Davrichewy (1940-), jazzman
• Kéthévane Davrichewy (1965-), writer
• Patricia Eligoulachvili (1958-), actress
• Raphaël Eligoulachvili, musician
• Guy Kédia (1934-), journalist
• Claude de Kemoularia (1922-), ambassador of France
• Luc Melua (1936-2010), motorist and journalist
• Ethéry Pagava (1932-), prima ballerina
• Patrick Topaloff (1944-2010), comedian, singer and actor
• Dimitri Yachvili (1980-), rugby union footballer
• Grégoire Yachvili (1977-), rugby union footballer
• Michel Yachvili (1946-), rugby union footballer
• François Zourabichvili (1965-2006), philosopher
• Nicolas Zourabichvili (1936-), composer
• Salomé Zourabichvili (1952-), ambassador of France

Religion

Saint Nino Georgian Orthodox Church, founded in 1929, in Paris, dépends on Ecumenical Patriarcate of Constantinople through tne Conference of Orthodox Bishops in France.

Saint Thamar Georgian Orthodox Church, founded in 2005, in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges (outside of Paris), depends on Georgian Orthodox Church.

External links

• (French) and (Georgian) Georgian Embassy in France
• (French) and (Georgian) Private Website on Georgian diaspora in France
• (French) Monthly French/Georgian Newsletter
• (French) Colisée : "La communauté géorgienne en France".