Uzbek President Awarded Georgia’s Prestigious Order of the Golden Fleece
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been awarded the Order of the Golden Fleece during an official visit to Tbilisi. The prestigious decoration was presented by Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili to formally recognise Mirziyoyev’s significant contributions towards strengthening the relationship between the two nations.
Following the formal ceremony the Uzbek leader expressed his sincere gratitude to the Georgian government and left a commemorative message in the Book of Honour at the historic Orbeliani Palace.
A mythological legacy
Established in 1998 the Order of the Golden Fleece stands as one of Georgia’s highest state decorations. It is exclusively awarded to foreign nationals who have played a vital role in developing international relations with the country.
The honour draws its name from the ancient Greek myth of the Argonauts who journeyed to the kingdom of Colchis to retrieve the legendary golden fleece. This ancient region was historically located within the borders of modern-day Georgia.
By accepting this medal Mirziyoyev joins an elite group of international leaders and royals. Previous recipients of the order include Queen Elizabeth II, King Abdullah II of Jordan, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and former Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev.
Expanding economic and strategic ties
This high-level diplomatic visit took place against a backdrop of rapidly expanding economic cooperation between the two republics. In 2025 mutual trade turnover reached an impressive $270 mln.
Logistical and commercial connectivity has also seen major improvements in recent years. Direct flights now regularly operate between Tashkent, Tbilisi and Batumi while the Georgian digital bank TBC has successfully established a strong presence within the Uzbek financial market.
During their extensive negotiations the leaders discussed future strategies for transporting international cargo through the vital Georgian Black Sea ports of Poti and Batumi. They also explored a variety of upcoming collaborative projects across several key sectors including agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals, tourism and digital technologies.
