Georgians all over the country are today celebrating Georgian Language Day to mark an occasion 43 years ago when 100,000 citizens protested to protect the status of Georgian language as the official state language.

The annual date marks the events of April 14, 1978, when Soviet authorities retracted their decision to revoke the official status the Georgian language following a mass demonstration in Georgia"s capital Tbilisi.

An initial march of 15,000 protesters grew to a demonstration involving 100,000 citizens at a central Tbilisi park – now known as Dedaena Park. After the protest a special monument was erected honouring the day’s events.

The mass protest forced the Soviet government to retract its decision and retain Georgian as the official state language in Georgia. This issue was also in focus in nearby then-Soviet nations.