Parliament Building of Georgia and April 9 Memorial

Why is it significant?

Stand before the colossal arcaded facade of the Parliament Building of Georgia, one of the most recognizable and politically resonant monuments on Rustaveli Avenue.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Stand before the colossal arcaded facade of the Parliament Building of Georgia, one of the most recognizable and politically resonant monuments on Rustaveli Avenue. Constructed in stages between 1938 and 1953 by architects Viktor Kokorin and Giorgi Lezhava, this massive neoclassical complex was built using warm golden-yellow tufa stone from the Bolnisi quarries. Its monumental central colonnade, stepped stone plinth, and wide public terrace have served as the focal point for modern Georgia's most dramatic struggles for freedom and democracy.

Directly fronting the central steps stands the solemn stone memorial dedicated to the victims of the April 9, 1989 tragedy. On that fateful spring night, Soviet interior troops and armored vehicles violently dispersed a peaceful pro-independence hunger strike, resulting in the tragic deaths of twenty-one peaceful demonstrators, mostly young women and students. Today, fresh red tulips and flickering votive candles continuously adorn the memorial, commemorating the sacrifice that galvanized the entire nation to declare full independence exactly two years later.

The site was originally occupied by the monumental Alexander Nevsky Military Cathedral, constructed in the late nineteenth century to commemorate imperial Russian victories in the Caucasian Wars. In 1930, Soviet authorities demolished the grand cathedral with dynamite to clear ground for the new Government House. During construction, German prisoners of war were utilized to carve the intricate stone reliefs and Corinthian capitals that ornament the sweeping exterior portico.

Standing on the broad stone steps, one feels the profound historical weight of the protests, revolutions, and celebrations that have unfolded across this pavement. The gentle mountain breeze rustles through the surrounding plane trees, carrying the solemn memory of national martyrs who gave their lives for liberty. The Parliament Building stands as the sacred forum where Georgia's democratic consciousness was forged in sacrifice.

Cross the boulevard to visit the serene stone courtyard of Kashveti Church of Saint George.