JANUARY 17, 2026 — Georgia observed its National Flag Day on January 14, honouring the five-cross banner that was formally restored as a state symbol in 2004, reports Georgia Today.
To commemorate the occasion, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Defence Forces of Georgia held coordinated flag-raising ceremonies at military bases and government installations across the nation, typically accompanied by the playing of the national anthem.
The five-cross design is frequently cited by state officials as a link to Georgia’s medieval past and its 1,700-year history of Christian civilization. According to the Georgian Public Broadcaster, Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili emphasized this narrative in a public statement, describing the flag as “the simplest, clearest and most vivid embodiment of our nation’s history, of 1,700 years of Christian civilisation, of its struggle and fortitude, which tells us who we are.”
Papuashvili further invoked the legacy of national figure Ilia Chavchavadze, asserting that the current state reflects a “free, proud, independent, self-reliant” homeland. The Speaker also noted that the push for the flag’s restoration gained significant momentum following a 1999 address by Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, who advocated for the return of historical iconography to symbolize national indivisibility.
However, the 2026 celebrations were marked by sharp criticism from the Georgian government toward the European Union Delegation. The Speaker of Parliament publicly demanded the removal of a congratulatory video posted by the EU Embassy, which reportedly featured footage of the flag being used during recent street protests.
Papuashvili characterized the video as “indecent footage that insulted the Georgian flag,” further alleging that the depiction served to romanticize political violence.
Image: Roberto Strauss, CC BY 2.0
