Tao Shiyou

Rusiko Zhorzholiani (': რუსიკო ჟორჟოლიანი'; 19th November 1913 - 12thJanuary, 1991, aged 77) was the leader of People's Democratic Republic of Meskehti from 1955 to his overthrow in 1989, serving as the General Secretary of the Socialist Workers Party of Meskheti as well as Chancellor from 1954 to 1966, and as Chairman of the People's Council (the de jure'' ) from 1966 to 1989. His 34 year rule was the second longest of any leader, eclipsed only by  of.

Born in a family of industrial workers Zhorzholiani was along with his brothers involved in various socialist movements in the Holy Imperium of Meskehti which formed the bulk of resistance against the rule of Simoni I. Zhorzholiani was detained and tortured under the imperial government. In 1937 Zhorzholiani escaped from prison where he joined the Socialist Workers Party of Meskheti (SMPM), an underground party that opposed Simoni I's rule. During World War II Zhorzholiani served as a collaborator for Soviet forces along with other members of the SMPM. Following the Soviet occupation of Meskheti and the rise of the SMPM Zhorzholiani was promoted to a member of the politburo of the SMPM under the General Secretary Anzor Kvaratskhelia. In 1955 Kvaratskhelia was forced out of government as part of with Zhorzholiani ascending to the position of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the SMPM.

Under the first 20 years of Zhorzholiani's rule Meskheti became one of the most brutal regimes in the Eastern Bloc comparable to 's with a large, frequent use of  and widespread. Zhorzholiani also oversaw rapid industrialisation in Meskheti as well as advance healthcare, education, and the rights of women and Slavs in Meskheti. During the second period of his rule Zhorzholiani introduced "New Communism" which saw the government increase spending on consumer products increasing the standard of living in Meskheti whilst becoming more with frequent purges against the Meskhetian population. During the Zhorzholiani attempted to consolidate power through further repressing the rights of Meskhetians, but was removed by the politburo in May that year. In September Zhorzholiani resigned from the position of Chairman of the People's Council passing power onto the elected president of Meskheti Merab Kherkheulidze, and formally retired. Zhorzholiani already suffering from ill health in the last years of his rule suffered a fatal heart attack in 1991.

Zhorzholiani's legacy in Meskheti has been largely disputed. Under Zhorzholiani Meskheti made many social and economic advances such as the increase of rights for women, the poor and ethnic minorities as well as the closing of the inequality gap that been prevalent under the Holy Imperium. Meskheti also went through significant industrialisation under Zhorzholiani as well as the creation of popular government institutions such as. Unemployment and homelessness also lessened under Zhorzholiani. However the brutal nature of Zhorzholiani's also saw a shortage of consumer goods leading to in some cases starvation. Political and religious opponents to Zhorzholiani's rule were imprisoned, tortured and killed with Zhorzholiani estimated to have killed up to 25,000 people during his rule.