Three writing systems of Georgian alphabet – Mrgvlovani, Nuskhuri and Mkhedruli – have been inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The decision was made at the 11th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on November 30. The Georgian government welcomed the decision as a step towards “strengthening the image of a culturally rich country at an international level.”
Nomination “Living culture of three writing systems of the Georgian alphabet”, which aimed at illustrating harmonious coexistence of three writing systems of Georgian alphabet in modern reality, was submitted to UNESCO in 2015 and it is Georgia’s third intangible heritage monument inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Ancient Georgian traditional Qvevri and Georgian polyphonic singing were also inscribed on the list in 2013 and 2008, respectively.