Levan Alexidze

July 5th, 1926 - July 31st, 2019

Memorial

Mementos

Professor Alexidze's contributions to the development of the doctrine of International Law and research of history have become indispensable tools for the conduct of public affairs worldwide. Official documents, drafted by Professor Alexidze or with his co-authorship, have been of immense importance for the statehood of contemporary Georgia. He played a crucial role during the restoration of sovereignty to, and in the drafting of the Constitution of newly independent Georgia and in its admission to various international organizations as a full-fledged member. He worked hard and acted quickly to establish the Georgian International Law School as a part of the newly created International Law and International Relations Faculty at Tbilisi State University immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union. His critical vision as an Academician and creative analysis of traditional legal concepts as well as the ensuing sustainability of his conclusions have been of immense value. Levan Alexidze will be dearly missed by all his loved ones. He will always be remembered for his exceptional gift of friendship and extraordinary professional leadership. May he rest in peace and serve as an example to all of us! Levan Alexidze was born in Tbilisi on July 5, 1926. Having graduated Faculty of Law of Tbilisi State University in 1946, in 1964 he was awarded a Doctoral degree in Law by the same Faculty. During his long professional career until his untimely, sudden death on 31 July 2019, Levan Alexidze was always intimately associated with his Georgian alma mater until the last days of his life - in addition to the many important positions and functions he held in Georgian and international public life. He was a Senior Officer at the UN Secretariat's Human Rights Department in New York and Geneva; Chief Advisor to the President of Georgia in international legal matters and Chairman of the Georgian Parliament's Legal Committee as well as Constitutional commissions. He represented his country in numerous international and regional conferences and meetings and was member of prestigious international law institutions. Professor Alexidze was also a prolific writer of scholarly works and a frequent lecturer on the importance of international law at Universities and legal Academies in Europe and the USA. His invaluable contributions to Georgian public life, good governance and the rule of law were recognized in receiving many state prizes and awards. Professor Alexidze's lecture on the topic of "People's Right to Self-Determination; Separatism in a Contemporary International Context". Watch here. Professor Alexidze's professional life was of incredible intensity and variation. Some details below: Positions and Function s: Professor of International Law at Tbilisi State University (since 1965); Member of the American Branch of the International Law Association (1970-1976); Senior Officer at the UN Secretariat's Human Rights Department in New York and Geneva (1970-1977) including as Secretary of the UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, (1970-1975), Head of the Advisory Services and Special Procedures Department (1975-1977) and Personal Representative of the UN Secretary General and organizer of many inter-state seminars; Member of the former Soviet Association of International Law (1958-1991) including Member of its Executive Board (1962-1970 and 1981-1990); and Member of the International Law Association (1962-1990); First Vice-Rector of the Tbilisi State University (1985-1993); its Deputy Rector (2010-2015); and Director of the International Law Institute at the Law Faculty of Tbilisi State University (since 2010). Member and Chairman of the Legal Committee of the Parliament of Georgia (1990-1991); Chief Adviser to the President of Georgia on international legal matters (1993-2004); Member of the Georgian Delegation in the Geneva Discussions on Abkhaz problems; Deputy Head of the Georgian Delegation at the Vienna International Conference on Human Rights (June 1993); Legal expert of the Georgian Delegation at the 47th and 49th Sessions of the UN General Assembly (1993-1995); Representative of Georgia at the sessions of the UN Commission on Human Rights (1994-1999); President of the Club of Rome in Georgia (since 1995); Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (since 1996); Head of the Georgian Delegation at the session of the UN Human Rights Committee (March 1997); Legal expert at the Rome Conference on the International Criminal Court (July 1998); Member in respect of Georgia in the Council of Europe's Commission against Racism and Intolerance (1999-2012); Director of the Institute of European Law and International Human Rights Law (since 2000); Full Member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences (since 2001); Chairman of the Committee for International Legal Aspects of the Georgian Constitution in the State Constitutional Commission (2009-2010); and member of the European Society of International Law (2011-2012). Since 1970 Levan Alexidze lectured on international law at prestigious institutions in the USA and Europe, including Emory and Boston Universities (USA); the Humboldt University (Germany); The Hague Academy of International Law; the State Universities of Kiev, Baku and Yerevan; the State University of Latvia, and the Academy of Human Rights (Greece). Scientific works: Professor Alexidze's more than 150 scientific monographs, textbooks, scientific articles, extensively published in English, German, Spanish, Russian and Georgian, have provided the foundation for the study of international legal aspects of Georgian history, were recognized as international law doctrine and served to substantiate the groundless nature of the right to self-determination claimed by aggressive separatists of breakaway Abkhazia, Georgia and South Ossetia, Georgia. He is the author of the first Georgian-language textbooks in the field of international law, being published since 1968; Levan Alexidze also started the Georgian-English Journal of International Law and was an editor and co-author of dictionary-guides such as the one on Modern International Law, Tbilisi, 2003; and on International Law and Human Rights, Tbilisi, 2005. Prizes and Awards: Levan Alexidze has received state prizes and awards, including St. George's Victory Order (2013); Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi (2011); the Presidential Order of Excellence (2010); Order of Honor (1996); and the Georgian state prize in science for a monograph: Некоторые Вопросы Теории Международного Права - Императивные нормы "jus cogens", Тбилиси, 1982 (1986). Lectures:

Tributes

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Stephanos Stavros

Levan Alexidze's contribution to the work of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) was greatly appreciated by everyone involved therein: Council of Europe governments, civil society, fellow ECRI members and secretariat alike. Speaking for the latter, I can confidently say that Levan will be long remembered for his wisdom, charisma and experience, great knowledge of international law, unique understanding of international relations and many human qualities (which made it a pleasure to work with him in a collective body). I spent many hours with him in Strasbourg during ECRI's plenary meetings and also had the pleasure of seeing Levan in Tiblisi on the occasion of a big event we organised there to discuss ECRI's finding and recommendations concerning Georgia. I am sure that this beautiful Southern Caucasus country has produced many great sons (and daughters). Levan must be among the most remarkable ones. His many years of involvement in the international community have rendered a great service to his people and his compatriots must be proud of this. The rest of us are grateful for all he did to advance the (increasingly difficult) cause of promoting greater respect for human rights in Europe. Stephanos Stavros, former executive secretary to ECRI

Published September 1st, 2019

Guram Mamphoria

On behalf of Alenka Prvinsek Persoglio: With prof. Levan Aleksidze we shared the same passion - the passion for the work with young, bright students. We both believed that there is no future without the past, and that the trans-generation transfer of knowledge, wisdom and experience pave the way for better tomorrow. I met prof. Aleksidze for the first time in early 2011, when I worked as a lawyer on an interesting EU project - about the curriculum on migration and asylum for the Government and Academia for Georgia and Moldova; we were all pioneers; this vibrant project articulated the needs for evidence-based migration policy that requested strong input of Academia. In this regard, the role and impact of principles of international law on the rights of individuals balanced with the principle of Souveregnity of the State brought the Tbilisi State University with personal engagement of prof. Aleksidze, his team and the students, into the very focus of a modern concept of migration policy. The results: the teams of the students of international public law of the TSU, led by prof. Aleksidze ‘s student, prof Ketevan Khutsishvilli, who were the winners of the European moot court competition on asylum or at the top of these and other competitions, confirmed the fact that the academic strength of the department of international public law led by prof. Aleksidze may compete with other European Universities on equal basis. Furthermore, it is the winner. I wish to express my sadness in regard of the loss of one of the greatest men that I ever met and share fond memories about him, expressing my deepest condolences to his family, and his colleagues and his students at the University. I conclude my tribute to prof. Aleksidze with the lyrics of the poet from John Donne: "No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thine own, Or of thine friend's were. Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee."

Published August 30th, 2019

Guram Mamphoria

On behalf of Gr. Baldur Kristjánsson: Levan was one of the wisest man in ECRI, defintely a brilliant intrnational legal mind. He was always very friendly and we had often small talk on the way out or to the bus. ( He was pretty old and walked slowly). If I remember right ( yes I do)he came to Iceland on a ECRI visit and I showed him f.ex. Thingvellir one of our national treasures. But condolences. Levan was a remarkable man, a good man, a man one remembers, a man his people ( and all of us) can be proud of. Gr. Baldur Kristjánsson former member of ECRI in respect of Iceland.

Published August 30th, 2019

Oleg Tortladze

On behalf of University of Groningen- Faculty of Law:

Published August 30th, 2019

Guram Mamphoria

On behalf of Lauri Hannikainen: It was in the early 1980's when Uncle Levan lectured on jus cogens in the Hague Summer Academy. I was in the process of writing a dissertation on jus cogens in Helsinki and traveled to the Hague to listen to the lectures about jus cogens. I also had the chance to discuss with Uncle Levan. The outcome was that in the following years we corresponded regularly and when my dissertation was published, he was one of the two experts whom I called my supervisors - he and Roger S. Clark from Rutgers University, the USA. (in Finland I did not have any supervisor!!) I warmly thanked these knowledgeable professors. Some fifteen years later I met again Uncle Levan and during 2003-11 we met regularly as members of the Council of Europe Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in Strasbourg. We discussed a lot together in amicable atmosphere. When a Festschrift was published in honour of Uncle Levan, I was one of the writers - writing an up-to-date article on jus cogens. I also learned to know his daughter and at one time tried to have such a role as Uncle Levan has had towards me - an informal supervisor of her dissertation work. However, my role as supervisor remained minor compared with Uncle Levan's role. He lived a long and rich life! Many thanks to him! Lauri Hannikainen Professor of International Law, emeritus, Finland

Published August 30th, 2019

Guram Mamphoria

On behalf of Dr. Maurizio Ragazzi: I was deeply sorry to receive the news of Prof. Alexidze's death. I had the privilege of meeting him (and enjoying his unmatchable hospitality) in Tbilisi in 1981, and then again at The Hague during the summer of that same year. After contributing to a book of essays in his honor, I was then pleased to exchange Christmas greetings with him, and to get to know Vaso Jaiani, a relative of his to whom I am copying this message, along with the expression of my sadness. Prof. Alexidze was an outstanding lawyer and a true gentleman, who has left a mark in the hearts and minds of all those who have met him. My wife and I are requesting that a Mass be celebrated for his soul. We are also praying for consolation to Prof. Alexidze's family members, and joining them in gratitude to God for having given us the gift of Prof. Alexidze's presence in our lives over the years. With heartfelt condolences, Dr. Maurizio Ragazzi

Published August 30th, 2019

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