Students send heartfelt letters to Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan (VIDEO)

Georgian soldiers serving in an international peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan have received warm wishes and Christmas greetings via letters written by some of Georgia’s younger citizens.

Students from the 41st public school in Kutaisi sent dozens of letters to the Georgian soldiers of the 22nd Batallion of the II Infantry Brigade, who are serving in Afghanistan within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Resolute Support Mission. 

The servicemen were grateful to receive the letters. Photo by Ministry of Defence. 

The letters wished the servicemen good health, Christmas greetings and messages of support for their efforts towards global peace and international security.

Today Georgia’s Ministry of Defence released photos and a video of the soldiers engrossed in the letters, many of whom had smiles on their faces.

I believe that you will come back safe to Georgia and meet your family members happily. I, as a Georgian citizen, also want to put my merit in my country’s safety and integration,” student Jemal Uplisashvili wrote in his letter. 

Soldiers said they were happy when reading the letters. Photo by Ministry of Defence. 

I hope that my letter will make you happy. I wish I were in your place,” another letter read. 

Soldier Giorgi Verulashvili was moved by the letter he received from student Temur Kometiani, so he sent the youngster a chess set emblazed with the name of his Battalion, as a return gift. 

The letters revealed the students’ patriotic aspirations. We are very happy to read such words written by them,” Verulashvili said. 

The Ministry of Defence said this type of communication between soldiers and students allowed students to learn more about the activities of soldiers serving abroad but it also provided support and sympathy to the soldiers who were defending Georgia’s interests abroad. 

Georgia is the largest non-NATO contributor to the Resolute Support mission with 885 troops. The aim of the mission was to provide further training, advice and assistance for the Afghan security forces and institutions after the completion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission, to which Georgia contributed about 750 soldiers.

Watch the video below.