Georgian-born author, journalist, and activist Tsisnami 'Sissy' Sakvarlishvili has seen her global platform expand rapidly since her book, Georgia After the Collapse of the Soviet Union, was featured on a towering digital billboard in Times Square on Easter 2026. The campaign, which broadcast her cinematic video trailer and book cover over 50 times, honored her as one of Franklin Publishers' 'Top 5 Spring Authors,' cementing her status as a premier voice in political history and human rights.
For Sakvarlishvili, the Times Square feature represents the culmination of a deeply personal journey. Rising from an abandoned child raised by blind adoptive parents to a migrant caregiver in Italy, she earned a Master's degree in Political Science from the University of Florence before immigrating to the United States in 2013. Today, she remains an active leader in the fight for Georgian democracy, having personally led protests against pro-Russian forces in her homeland.
'Seeing my story—and the story of my country—lit up in the center of the world is a profound honor,' says Sakvarlishvili. 'Georgia is an ancient, beautiful nation that has been tested by empire and has paid a very high price for its freedom. I wrote this book so the world will finally understand our history and our ongoing fight for democracy.'
The book, Georgia After the Collapse of the Soviet Union, provides an emotionally detailed and data-driven account of the nation's first decades of independence. Sakvarlishvili weaves her own resilience into a rigorous analysis of Georgia's transformation, examining the leadership of post-Soviet presidents and the sweeping reforms that followed the 2003 Rose Revolution. It details the shift from a centrally planned command economy to a liberalized market system and confronts the structural realities of rebuilding a nation under pressure between integration with Western institutions and systemic external pressure from Russia.
Sakvarlishvili's work is part of a broader narrative of resilience and democratic survival. Her personal story—surviving the collapse of the Soviet Union, war, and displacement—parallels Georgia's own journey. The book is available globally on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and through her official author website.
The implications of this announcement are significant. By bringing Georgia's history and ongoing struggle to a global audience, Sakvarlishvili amplifies the voices of those fighting for democracy in a region often overshadowed by geopolitical tensions. Her visibility in Times Square not only honors her personal triumph but also highlights the importance of understanding post-Soviet transitions and the resilience required to maintain democratic institutions under external pressure.
