Over 300 soldiers join Georgian Armed Forces on Independence Day

The celebration of Georgia’s 26th Independence Day has today started with one of the most memorable events - an oath-taking ceremony, which took place at Freedom Square, in the heart of the capital, Tbilisi.

During the special celebration, which marks Georgia’s independence from the Soviet Union, more than 300 recruits made an oath to serve their country after which they officially were welcomed into the Georgian Armed Forces.

Georgia's armed forces entering Freedom Square.

In the background of music performed by the Military orchestra of the National Guard of Georgia, various military units entered Freedom Square. First came the military forces from the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre, followed by Georgian soldiers from the Alpha unit of 12th Battalion of the NATO Response Force, servicemen from Georgia's Cadet Military Lyceum and others.

When all armed forces were on site, Georgia’s President and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Giorgi Margvelashvili congratulated everyone on Georgia’s Independence Day and asked for a minute of silence to pay respect to the memory of fallen soldiers, who died for Georgia’s independence, territorial integrity and in international missions.

In the background of music performed by the Military orchestra of the National Guard of Georgia, various military units entered Freedom Square.

After a minute’s silence the conscripts made an oath to Georgia in front of the country’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze, Supreme Court Chairperson Nino Gvenetadze, Patriarch Ilia II, Government and diplomatic missions’ representatives and other officials.

The oath-taking ceremony was crowned by the national anthem, after which the President addressed the military personnel with his speech, where he accented that the independence was a basic and important premise for future development.

Over 300 soldiers joined Georgian Armed Forces today.

26 years ago we showed to the world that Georgia restored its independence. We truly managed to establish Georgian state which is really independent with its polity. But the way from independent to freedom is still there to go. A free country is a country which has a free society; and free society is constituted with free people,” said Margvelashvili.

In his Independence speech the president said that Georgia was "patiently” waiting for the moment when the European Union and the NATO decides to become stronger with having Georgia in its membership.

At the end of the oath-taking ceremony Georgian ensemble Georgian Voices performed a special song dedicated to the Georgian army.

The official ceremony involved Prime Minister Kvirikashvili’s Independence Day speech too, where he said that there is no more honour than it is standing on the guard of the homeland.

My soldiers! Always be proud that you are from the land of Rustaveli [Georgia’s iconic, 12th century poet Shota Rustaveli]. Stay always faithful to the values that are kept during the centuries by our ancestors and that are today our nation’s moral code,” said the PM.

Georgia’s Minister of Defence Levan Izoria also addressed the crowds and highlighted the merit of officers, sergeants, corporals, and all soldiers who serve in dignity to defend Georgia’s territorial integrity, independence and freedom.

At the end of the oath-taking ceremony Georgian ensemble Georgian Voices (Kartuli khmebi in Georgian) performed a special song created and dedicated to the Georgian army.