Tamar Chergoleishvili
Tamar Chergoleishvili | |
|---|---|
 Chergoleishvili in 2015 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 25, 1975 |
| Party | European Georgia (2023-2024) Federalists (since 2024) |
| Spouse | Giga Bokeria |
| Alma mater | Tbilisi State University (BA) |
Tamar Chergoleishvili (Georgian: თამარ ჩერგოლეიშვილი, born May 25, 1975, in Tbilisi) is a Georgian politician and journalist, known for her liberal political views and advocacy of Euro-Atlantic integration, democratic governance, and resistance to oligarchic influence in Georgia. She is co-founder of the Federalists Party and the founder of online magazine Tabula.
Early life and education
Born on May 25, 1975, Chergoleishvili graduated in 1997 from the Faculty of International Law and Relations at Tbilisi State University, majoring in international relations.
Professional career
Chergoleishvili began her professional career in the mid-1990s, collaborating with the humanitarian mission of the United Methodist Church from 1996 to 1997. Between 1997 and 1998, she worked for the American Bar Association (ABA), where she was actively involved in the process of judicial reform, the development of judicial ethics, and the creation of legislation regarding freedom of speech. From 1999 to 2000, she cooperated with the United States Department of Justice in the process of prosecution reform in Georgia.
In 2000, she began working for the Council of Europe (CoE), holding various positions over a ten-year tenure. From 2006 to 2010, she served as the head of the CoE legal group. During this period, she played an active role in aligning Georgian legislation with European standards, specifically in the fields of criminal law, economic crime, cybercrime, human rights, and media freedom.
In 2009, she transitioned into media, founding the magazine Tabula, and later launched Tabula Television at the end of 2012, serving as its director and a prominent commentator.
Political Career
In 2023, Chergoleishvili formally entered politics by joining European Georgia."თამარ ჩერგოლეიშვილი: თუ ამომრჩეველი მენდო, ვიბრძოლებ არჩევნებში". Radio Liberty. 10 November 2023. In August 2024, she left the party along with several colleagues following an internal dispute regarding the party's primary elections and leadership direction."Giga Bokeria quits European Georgia". Georgian Public Broadcaster. 1 August 2024.
Following her departure, Chergoleishvili became one of the founders of the Federalists Party (ფედერალისტები) in 2024. The party was established in response to what its founders described as democratic backsliding and the concentration of informal power in Georgia. Chergoleishvili has been a key figure in shaping the party’s platform, which emphasizes decentralization, federalism, the rule of law, and a steadfast pro-Western foreign policy.
Personal life
Chergoleishvili is married to Georgian politician Giga Bokeria.[1]