Gregory John Zakarov made a significant contribution to the Tbilisi Museums Union – Ilia Chavchavadze Literary Memorial Museum by presenting his father’s silver belt and a collection of historical documents and photographs.
His family’s visit to Georgia was motivated by a quest for historical truths and archival materials.
According to his father’s records, Shalva Gigolashvili, born in the Gori district around September 1903-06, had an intriguing life story. As a young orphan, he aided a British military unit stationed near the Varaziskhevi, taking care of their horses. Subsequently, with a certificate issued in 1919 and a Georgian surname from the Belgian embassy in Constantinople, Shalva journeyed to London. By 1922, he relocated to Australia and continued his life in exile, adopting the surname Zakharov. His days were spent in Sydney, where he raised a family of five with his wife until his passing.
In 1981, Shalva Gigolashvili-Zakharov returned to Georgia, driven by a desire to unearth familial connections and archival materials.
In honor of this rich history, Gregory John Zakharov generously contributed his father’s silver belt, along with historical documents and photographs, to the museum dedicated to Ilia Chavachavadze.
