Shota Khabareli

Shota Khabareli is a Georgian politician and former professional judoka who currently serves as a Member of the Parliament of Georgia. Before entering politics, he achieved international acclaim in judo, most notably winning the gold medal in the half-middleweight class at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow while representing the Soviet Union. Throughout his athletic career, he secured multiple medals at the World and European Championships and became widely recognized for his mastery of the knee lift throw, or yagura nage. Following his retirement from competitive sports, he transitioned into public service and has been a long-standing member of the Georgian legislative body.