Today, January 15, the world was shaken by sad news - the legendary Georgian singer, actor and director Vakhtang Kikabidze died.

The artist was famous not only for his creative activity, but also for his firm political position.. Kikabidze condemned the bloody and aggressive policy of Russia. Since 2008, the artist stopped traveling to the aggressor country and giving concerts there.. Vakhtang Konstantinovich also refused Russian awards.

The singer did this after Russia invaded the territory of the independent country of Georgia and started a military conflict there.. Kikabidze then said that if he continued to travel further to the Russian Federation, he would not be able to look into the eyes of his grandchildren.

" I immediately realized that if I go there to sing, I won’t be able to look my grandchildren in the eye,” Vakhtang Konstantinovich said in an interview..

Since 2008, the artist has not forgiven Russia and has never gone there. When the aggressor country went to Ukraine with a war in 2014, in particular, annexed Crimea and unleashed a military conflict in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, Kikabizde supported the Ukrainians. The artist said, if he were younger, he would volunteer to fight in the ATO zone.

Meanwhile, Vakhtang Konstantinovich openly condemned the policy of the Kremlin dictator. Back in 2014, he called Putin a "

" He is an invader! He is stuck on one thing: he thinks that he will forever command his country. And people are not eternal, and everything in life ends. And even his great-grandchildren will be ashamed to call his last name,"

After such comments, Vakhtang Kikabidze was blacklisted in Russia. However, the artist was not at all upset, but on the contrary, he reacted to this with humor..

Since the beginning of 2014, the legendary musician has actively supported Ukraine. In the fall of 2015, Vakhtang Kikabidze dedicated his solo concert in Kyiv to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. The artist called Russia an occupier and stated that Crimea is Ukraine.

Also, the musician in 2021 called on Ukrainian artists to stop traveling with concerts in Russia..

“You can’t go singing and dancing for the one who beats you,” the celebrity said on one of the talk shows..

When the aggressor country Russia unleashed a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Kikabidze became in support of the Ukrainians. The legendary actor also addressed the Russians and noted that they "

During a full-scale war, Vakhtang Konstantinovich came to Ukraine three times. And what he saw here was simply shocking.. He called the actions of the Russian military a real genocide against Ukrainians.

" I have never seen this even in the movies.. Now the cities to which I used to fly with concerts - there is nothing. All compared to the ground. Nothing left. What is another word for genocide When children are taken out, they are sent to some distant countries. When orphanages explode, when maternity, kindergartens are shelled. I can’t turn my tongue, ”said the musician in the Gostinny Dvir program..

Vakhtang Kikabidze supported the Ukrainians not only with powerful speeches and comments. The legendary artist transferred part of the funds to help Ukraine. In particular, the money collected at the anniversary concert in Batumi, which took place last summer, Vakhtang Konstantinovich spent on a minibus with dry rations for the Ukrainian military.

Vakhtang Kikabidze passed away on January 15 at the age of 85. What caused the death of the legend is unknown. However, he has recently been battling a serious illness..