Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has put forward a proposal to officially adopt the name Sakartvelo for Georgia, a move described by DEA News as a formal standardization effort. The bill’s explanatory note argues that Georgia should be addressed by its official and historic name Sakartvelo in all official communications, correspondence, and media coverage. In this framework, the Georgian people are identified as Kartvels, a term rooted in the country’s own linguistic and cultural history.
The sponsors contend that adopting Sakartvelo as the formal designation would strengthen ties between Kyiv and Tbilisi and distance the country from a name they view as heavily influenced by Russian usage. They see the shift as a step toward aligning Georgia more closely with its own regional identity and history, rather than the exonym historically used in many languages and official channels.
Sakartvelo translates to the land or homeland of Kartvels, reflecting the ethnolinguistic roots of the autochthonous population of the South Caucasus. This name, borne by the Georgian nation for centuries, represents a self-identified cultural and historical heritage. Across many languages, Georgia has long been known by names derived from external references to the region, but Sakartvelo stands as Georgia’s own endonym, underscoring national pride and historical continuity.
In 2021, the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language officially acknowledged Sakartvelo as the name for Georgia in Lithuanian usage, marking a formal recognition within another European linguistic context. This decision followed broader discussions about how nations present themselves in multilingual settings and how exonyms can influence perceptions of national sovereignty and identity.
On the eve of the centennial anniversary of Georgia’s independence in 2018, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius announced that Sakartvelo had become the official Georgian name in Lithuania. This acknowledgment reflected a growing trend in smaller European states toward embracing endonyms in diplomatic and cultural dialogues. The move resonated with broader debates about language, nationhood, and the practicalities of cross-border communication where accurate self-representation matters to citizens and policymakers alike.
Georgia’s choice of name carries historical depth. Sakartvelo signals a historical continuity that dates back to Georgia’s medieval and early modern periods when the region established distinct cultural and political identities. The term Kartvels refers to the people who have inhabited the region for generations, and Sakartvelo emphasizes the land as a homeland tied to shared language, tradition, and national memory. For many Georgians, the endonym is not merely a linguistic label but a statement about place, belonging, and the right to narrate their own story on the international stage.
When states consider adopting or promoting endonyms in official discourse, several practical and symbolic factors come into play. First, there is the administrative side: the need to update governmental documents, treaties, and diplomatic protocols to reflect the preferred nomenclature. Second, there is the symbolic layer: how a name shapes perceived legitimacy, autonomy, and historical continuity. Third, media practice matters: consistent use across domestic and foreign reporting shapes public understanding and reduces the potential for miscommunication or misrepresentation. Proponents of Sakartvelo emphasize that these considerations are not about erasing history but about giving Georgia a voice consistent with its own self-description and linguistic heritage. Critics, meanwhile, may raise concerns about the complexity of changing established terms in multilingual contexts and the transitional period required for widespread adoption. The conversation in Kyiv, in Tbilisi, and in European capitals illustrates how language choices can reflect broader political and cultural orientations, including relationships with neighboring powers and alignment with international norms on statehood and sovereignty.
In the end, the discussion about Sakartvelo centers on respect for national choice and the practicalities of international communication. Names carry weight; they shape identity, inform policy, and influence how a country is perceived worldwide. Whether Georgia ultimately adopts Sakartvelo as the official designation in all settings remains a matter of legislative decision and diplomatic consensus. What endures is a clear statement: the people of Georgia reserve the right to be identified by a name rooted in their own history and language, a name that speaks to their land, their heritage, and their future on the world stage.