Professor Emeritus
Born in Tbilisi (1949). Graduated from the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Tbilisi State University (1971), passed postgraduate course at the Institute of History and Ethnography of the Academy (1975). In 1975-2010 he worked in the same institute (the last position: chief scientist). Defended Candidate (1975) and Doctoral (1990) dissertations. Worked part-time at the Abkhazian University (1984-1992), at the Military Academy of the Ministry of Defense (1995-1999), at the Georgian Military-Engineering Academy (2004-2005) and Tbilisi State University (2006-2007). Since 2007 – has been working at Ilia State University. He has published 165 works, including 21 books. In 2008-2009 he was a member of the Board of Governors of Georgian Public Broadcasting (I Channel). Since 1985 has been involved in non-governmental peace processes. Since 2001 has been lecturing at the Abkhazian state University in Sukhumi. For his outstanding contributions to the development of a culture of tolerance in Georgia, he was awarded a diploma and the title of Guardian of Tolerance by the Council of National Minorities under the Public Defender of Georgia (2014).
History of Georgian and Caucasian peoples, military history, ethnic history, Turkish writings about Caucasian peoples, ethnopolitical conflicts (genesis, development and transformation), historical geography and cartography, Georgian source science and historiography
Books
Articles in magazines
An extensive list of publications
Books
Articles