Eduard Amvrolyevich Shevardnadze

Shevardnadze, Eduard Amvrolyevich (1928– ), president of the Republic of Georgia (1992– ). USSR foreign minister 1985–90. He was head of the ministry of internal affairs of the Republic of Georgia, 1965–72. He became foreign minister after being promoted to a full voting member of the Politburo in 1985. Shevardnadze was known as a liberal on friendly terms with the West. He resigned Dec. 20, 1990 over disagreements with other members of the Soviet government. Since 1995 he is also prime minister of Georgia.

See also: Georgia; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.