On June 30, citizens of Akhaltsikhe celebrated Akhaltsikhe Day by participating in several events that were held in different parts of the city. However, the major event was held near Rabat Fortress and, like every year, the names of the citizens having been granted the title of Honorary Citizen of Akhaltsikhe were announced during the major event.

This year, the recipients were Doctor Ruzanna Melikyan, craftswoman Mariam Zhuzhunadze and Metropolitan Stepan Kalaijishvili. It should be mentioned that the title has been granted for the past couple of years, but only this year did a representative of an ethnic minority receive the title, writes akhaltskha.net.

The series of events featured an exhibition-sale of the arts and crafts of Georgians in the territory of Rabat Fortress. Several athletic events were also held on the occasion. The main concert featured performances by not only Georgian choirs and dance groups, but also Armenian choirs and dance groups under the direction of the Akhaltskha Song and Dance Ensemble (adjunct to the local church), the local school’s dance group and violinist Harutyun Charokhchyan.