Two countries mourn Georgian fighter fallen in Ukraine

Ukrainians have gathered in Kiev’s central Independence Square to mourn the fallen Georgian fighter who died while defending Ukrainian land from Russian-backed rebels near Donetsk last week.

Georgian fighter Tamaz Sukhiashvili, 36, fell victim to one of the worst shellings in the nine-month war in eastern Ukraine after he had volunteered to fight alongside Ukrainian soldiers in Donetsk, one of the most volatile areas in Ukraine.

Sukhiashvili’s comrade-in-arms, Ukrainian civilians and Ukrainian and Georgian officials paid tribute to the fallen soldier’s memory in Kiev.

A screenshot from video footage of the ceremony in Kiev by Rustavi 2 TV channel

Georgian Member of Parliament Tedo Japaridze was in Kiev and said: "Whatever happens in Ukraine today… happens for our freedom. For us to maintain the independence that Georgia and Ukraine gained in the ‘90s.”

After being honoured in Ukraine, the body of the fallen Georgian soldier will be returned home later today.

Sukhiashvili served in the Georgian Armed Forces until 2012. He had fought for Georgia in the 2008 Russia-Georgia war and had participated in peace missions to Iraq and Afghanistan.

He was survived by his wife and two children.