ensuing confrontation, eight police officers and several protesters are injured and the opposition politician Davit Kirkitadze arrested on 17 December for an attack on police vehicle. 16 December – Upon Zurabishvili's inauguration as President, the constitutional amendments passed in 2017 and several other laws come into effect. 27 December – Appointment of the controversial judge Levan Murusidze to the Court of Appeals for lifetime tenure stirs up criticism and concerns over his independence voiced by two non-judge members of the High Council of Justice and civil society groups. Deaths 3 January – Valery Chalidze, a Soviet-era dissident and human rights activist (born 1938). 4 January – Tristan Makhauri, a Georgian philologist and folklorist (born 1959). 8 January – Mariam Lordkipanidze, a Georgian historian (born 1922). 9 January – Mikheil Naneishvili, a Georgian philosopher and politician, MP (1992–1995, 1999–2004) (born 1934). 6 February – Pridon Sakvarelidze, a Georgian politician and author, MP (1992–1995, 2012–2016) (born 1954). 10 January – Gia Chanturia, a Georgian diplomat and oil executive, ambassador to Azerbaijan (1994–1996), head of International Oil Corporation of Georgia (1995–2004) (born 1957). 15 January – Samson Kutateladze, a Georgian businessman and former brigadier general, MP (2008–2012) (born 1964), shot. 24 January – Otar Kajaia, Georgian linguist and lexicographer (born 1923). 6 February – Pridon Sakvarelidze, Georgian politician and author, MP (1992–1995, 2012–2016) (born 1954). 12 February – Tedo Uturgaidze, Georgian philologist and scholar of the Kartvelian languages (born 1927). 26 February – Giorgi Maisashvili, a Georgian economist and politician (born 1962). 1 March – Zurab Vadachkoria, Georgian illusionist (born 1961). 8 April – Leila Abashidze, a Georgian actress (born 1929). 22 April – Nino Khurtsidze, a Georgian chess player (born 1975). 25 April – Dali Panjikidze, Georgian translator and Germanist (born 1937). 29 April – Irakli Zhordania, Georgian metallurgy engineer, Minister of Science and Technologies (1990–1993) (born 1931). 30 April – Zezva Medulashvili, Georgian writer and Orientalist (born 1939). 13 May – Baadur Tsuladze, Georgian actor, film director, writer and broadcaster (born 1935). 11 June – Giorgi "Gio" Khutsishvili, Georgian singer and actor (born 1962). 25 July – Vakhtang Balavadze, Georgian wrestler (born 1927). 31 August – Guram Tevzadze, Georgian philosopher, Vice-President of GNAS (2002–2018) (born 1932). 23 September – Mikheil Jojua, Georgian football player, FC Dinamo Tbilisi (1949–1953) (born 1925). 28 September – Tamaz Chiladze, Georgian poet and writer (born 1931). 24 November – Amiran Shalikashvili, Georgian stage actor and director,