"The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Georgia expresses deep condolences in connection with the death of the People's Artist of Georgia, laureate of the Shota Rustaveli State Prize, an outstanding writer, artist, theater and film director Rezo Gabriadze," the Ministry of Education said in a statement.
Gabriadze was born in June 1936 in Kutaisi.
He was the author of scripts for more than 35 Georgian and Soviet films, including "Mimino", "Don't Cry!", "Qvevri", "Freaks", "Serenade".
He also created illustrations for more than 50 books.
In 1981 he founded the Tbilisi Puppet Theater, was the author of the monument to Chizhik-Pyzhik, erected in 1994 in St. Petersburg.