100 Georgians soldiers leave for Afghanistan

100 Georgian soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Brigade are leaving for Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defence held a special farewell ceremony today prior to the departure.

Georgia's Defence Minister stressed the importance of Georgia-NATO partnership and praised Georgian soldiers' role in international peacekeeping missions. Photo by Ministry of Defence press office. 

The hundred soldiers headed by Captain Shalva Megrelishvili will serve in Mazar-i-Sharif, in Afghanistan, under the supervision of German command over the course of six months.

Before setting out on the peacekeeping mission the soldiers underwent a special, 13-week training in Georgia and in Germany, between February 4 and June 23.  

They will be responsible for control of their perimeter and participation in fast response operations.

Armament of the 3rd Infantry Brigade was exhibited during the ceremony. Photo by Ministry of Defence press office.  

Georgia is the largest non-NATO contributor to the Resolute Support mission with 885 troops.

The Resolute Support mission was a follow-on task from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission, to which Georgia contributed about 750 troops.