Georgia sends condolences after terror attack in Nice, France

Georgia is extremely saddened and offering its sincere condolences to the people of France after a deadly terrorist attack in the coastal city of Nice left 80 people dead and dozens more injured.

Georgian leaders have expressed solidarity with France and strongly condemned the attack, carried out by a man who drove a truck into crowds of people who were celebrating Bastille Day - the country’s national day – in the southeastern coastal city yesterday.

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili expressed his grief and shared his message of sorrow via Twitter today:

I was outraged about horrific #NiceAttack that took lives of peaceful civilians.Our thoughts and prayers are with victims & their families.

— President Of Georgia (@MargvelashviliG) July 15, 2016

Meanwhile, Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili also expressed his deep sorrow about the tragedy and hoped the democratic community would join global efforts for world peace.

What happened in Nice, France, is a disturbing tragedy. Innocent people, killed and wounded including children, have fallen victim to an act of unimaginable cruelty”, said Kvirikashvili.

On behalf of the Georgian Government and the Georgian people, I express my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, the French people, and the Government of France”.

Especially appalling is the fact that the attack took place when Bastille Day, the main national holiday, was celebrated across France. It is a major challenge posed to the whole civilized world”.

I believe the democratic community will join efforts to defeat this evil and establish world peace. I am convinced that the idea of freedom, which is so closely tied to Bastille Day, and for which free citizens were brutally killed, will endure forever, ultimately emerging victorious,” Kvirikashvili said.

Georgian PM also posted on his official Twitter:

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of #Nice.

— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) July 14, 2016

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry issued a special statement today that "strongly condemned” the killing dozens of people.

We are appalled by the tragedy caused by the barbaric attack [in Nice] and express our solidarity and support to French people and government. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia shares the sorrow of the families and friends of those killed,” the statement read.

Georgia's Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze tweeted:

I'm shocked and saddened by tragic events in #Nice. My thoughts and prayers are with victims & their families.#NiceAttack#France

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) July 15, 2016

Georgia’s Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli was also saddened by the tragedy in France.

First Paris, then Brussel and Istanbul terrorist attacks, now they’re becoming larger-scale in Europe. Yes Europe is fighting against terrorism but we see it is not enough. Considering the threat that the world is facing now we can say that the challenge is bigger than the current response,” Khidasheli said.

Georgia’s Economy Minister Dimitry Kumsishvili also shared his message of sorrow and said terrorism was the biggest evil of modern times.

Meanwhile the Embassy of Georgia in France has published a hotline number for Georgian citizens who need assistance or information following the terrorist attack in Nice.

• Georgian citizens can call +337833186 89.

The Embassy has not yet received any information that any Georgian citizens were injured or involved in the attack.