34 years have passed since the referendum on the restoration of Georgia’s independence.
On March 31, 1991, a nationwide referendum was held, based on the results of which, the Supreme Council, headed by Zviad Gamsakhurdia, adopted the Act of Independence.
The referendum posed a single question to voters: “Do you support the restoration of the independence of Georgia in accordance with the Act of Declaration of Independence of Georgia of 26 May 1918?” The response was overwhelmingly affirmative, with 99.5% voting in favor and a voter turnout of 90.6%.
This decisive expression of the Georgian people’s will led the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia to declare the restoration of the country’s independence on April 9, 1991. This declaration was grounded in the earlier Act of Independence from May 26, 1918, emphasizing the continuity of Georgia’s statehood.
The referendum and subsequent declaration were significant milestones in Georgia’s history, marking the end of Soviet rule and the re-establishment of national sovereignty. These events are commemorated annually, reflecting their enduring importance in the nation’s collective memory.
March 31 is also the birthday of the first President of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia. He would have turned 86 today.
