Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Government members on Thursday paid tribute to 23 victims of the 1990s armed conflict in the now Russian-occupied Abkhazia region after their remains were transferred to Tbilisi on Wednesday.
The remains belong to 21 combatants and two civilians who had been missing since the 1992-1993 conflict, and were transferred in the latest phase of the work of the Government and the International Committee of the Red Cross for the purpose.
The PM joined a service for the victims of the war at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the city and offered his sympathy to their families, the Government press office said.
Remains of 604 persons missing following the 1990s conflict and the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia have been recovered in search efforts since 2013, with 288 identified.