Abstract

This article examines Teimuraz Mamatsashvili’s ambassadorship to the United Kingdom and Ireland (1995-2004), drawing on archival records, contemporary accounts and diplomatic testimony. It traces how Mamatsashvili employed ceremonial performance and cultural diplomacy (most strikingly, his national attire chokha, public toasts and the sharing of Georgian cognac) to project Georgian identity and soft power in Britain. The study evaluates his contributions to cultural initiatives (Vinopolis, theatre tours, a London exhibition for a gifted young artist), economic interventions (establishing banking links, safeguarding the fishing fleet) and community building (founding a Georgian church in the UK). Mamatsashvili’s nine years of service made a lasting impression on British official and public memory, as attested by personal recollections such as Prince Philip’s remark in 2015.