Georgia Says No to Russia Without Restoration of Territory

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Teimuraz Lezhava, Georgia's Ambassador to Japan, is famous for his witty and viral posts on X (formerly Twitter). Recently, he spoke exclusively with the Sankei Shimbun in an interview. With 20% of Georgia still under illegal Russian occupation, he made his position clear: "There will be no resumption of diplomatic ties with Russia unless our territory is restored." Lezhava also reiterated his country's unwavering support for Ukraine and commended Japan's accelerating efforts to bolster its national security.

Going Viral

On November 15, 2021, Lezhava officially became the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Japan. As ambassador, his first viral moment came when he attended Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony wearing traditional Georgian attire. Social media quickly drew comparisons to the iconic costumes of the Ghibli movie Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, catapulting him into online fame.

Now 37, Lezhava first came to Japan with his family at the age of four for his father's research. He went on to attend Japanese elementary, middle, and high schools before graduating from Waseda University. Professionally, his career also began at a Japanese company. Believing his deep understanding of Japanese society gave him a unique voice, he began using X to introduce Georgian culture to a wider audience. That effort has earned him more than 350,000 followers.

Although his posts often highlight the warmth of Georgian culture, featuring local wines and comfort foods like shkmeruli, his stance on global affairs is far more sober. Lezhava lived through Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia and the continued occupation of South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) and Abkhazia. He later witnessed the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, shaping a worldview firmly grounded in harsh geopolitical realities.

Changes by Force Must Not Be Tolerated

Ambassador Lezhava emphasized, "Changing the status quo by force must never be tolerated. The rule of law is essential," he said, drawing a clear parallel between Georgia and Japan in their unwavering support for Ukraine.

Speaking about Japan — surrounded by powerful neighbors like Russia, China, and North Korea — he observed, "Japan is reinforcing its security at an unprecedented pace." Lezhava added that he now seldom hears the country dismissed as being naively pacifist.

*Teimuraz Lezhava, Ambassador of Georgia to Japan (©Sankei by Katsuyuki Seki)*

Georgia's Path to the EU and NATO

Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, has drawn criticism for what some see as a pro-Russian stance. Addressing this, Ambassador Lezhava cited a tanka poem by Bokusui Wakayama:

"Is the swan not sad — drifting, untouched by the blue of sky or sea?"

Using the poem as a metaphor for preserving national identity without succumbing to surrounding influences, he explained, "If we fail to strike the right balance, it could endanger the very survival of our nation." Despite external pressures, he reaffirmed that Georgia remains firmly committed to its constitutional goal of joining the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Authors: Yusuke Hirata, Shigeyuki Mizuchi, The Sankei Shimbun

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