Mikheil Saakashvili saw the artworks of Georgian sculptor Andro Wekua is Switzerland's Pavilion at Venice Biennale. Composition named "Sokhumi before the collapse" consists of 15 constructions. Mikheil Saakashvili stated that the copies of famous sculptures of Sokhumi once again underline the fame of this city. He said that despite all attempts the occupant would not be able to erase Abkhazia from the mentality of Georgian people.
"See how infinite is Georgian talent. It goes beyond the borders of Georgia and the artworks of Georgian artist are exhibited in the pavilion of Switzerland. Every country had a right to exhibit only one artist and Switzerland chose Georgian. We have no good songs about Sokhumi, Abkhazia since Soviet times. Nothing was written about Abkhazia, because it was prohibited in Soviet times. There were some limits though - Georgian composers and writers could write about Tbilisi, some about Kutaisi, some about Batumi, because political bureau kept Abkhazia in its claws and was not intending to cede it to Georgia. No art was created about Abkhazia in Georgia. However if you see the culture of whole Abkhazia from the ancient times - it is the culture of Georgia. The fact that Andro Wekua made these works is very symbolic, because our occupant will not be able to erase Abkhazia from minds of Georgians despite any conditions. This is the most painful for him. This is why all attempts are directed this way. The occupant will not be able to maintain it, because it doesn't belong to them. Abkhazia belongs to Georgian people and to the multi-ethnic population of Georgian and we will return everything in a legal way", Mikheil Saakashvili noted.
Andro Wekua is the son of a hero of the National Liberation Movement Vova Wekua, who fell dead during the first attack with Abkhaz separatists in 1989.