Grigol Vashadze (Georgian: გრიგოლ ვაშაძე, also transliterated as Gregory Vashadze) (born July 19, 1958) is a Georgian politician, diplomat and a former member of the Cabinet of Georgia in the capacity of the Minister for Culture, Heritage Preservation and Sport (2008) and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia (2008–2012).

In the first round of the election, his opponent Salome Zurabishvili won just one percentage point ahead of Vashadze.

[1] In his presidential campaign, Vashadze signalled his intention to use the presidency’s limited powers to send a vocal message of integration with NATO and the European Union.

[citation needed] Vashadze has been married, since 1988, to the famous ballet dancer Nina Ananiashvili and has two children, Nodar and Elene.

[4] Beyond his native Georgian, Vashadze speaks Russian, English, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and French.