Georgia commemorates victims of 2008 Russia-Georgia war
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Today marks the ninth anniversary of the August 8 Russian invasion of Georgia and the country’s government and citizens are remembering those who lost their lives to defend their homeland.
On August 8, 2008 Russia invaded Georgia and a five-day war ensued, which claimed many lives and left thousands more homeless.
At Mukhatgverdi Brothers’ Cemetery today Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, President Giorgi Margvelashvili and other top officials paid tribute to the victims of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, together with the Cabinet Ministers, visited the Mukhatgverdi Brothers’ Cemetery today. Photo: PM's press office.
"There is no alternative to peace and the government is doing its best to maintain peace, in the first place”, Prime Minister Kvirikashvili said.
He added that a "unified, economically strong, democratic, truly European” Georgia is being built to make it a shared home for Georgians, Abkhazians and Ossetians.
"This war was a tragedy for everybody, that’s why we should look into each others’ eyes, tell each other what we have to tell and we should reconcile because there is no alternative to reconciliation either”, Kvirikashvili said.
— President Of Georgia (@MargvelashviliG) August 7, 2017
President Margvelashvili said that he believes every person is born free but with responsibility in front of their homeland. He added that the heroes of the August war carried this responsibility proudly and died for their country.
President Giorgi Margvelashvili visited the Mukhatgverdi Brothers’ Cemetery today. Photo: President's press office.
"Nine years ago, the Russian army crossed the border of the sovereign, independent country and occupied our regions. In reality, this occupation has started in the beginning of the 90’s, from the very moment when the Georgian nation once again stated that it chooses its own, independent, free road of development”, Margvelashvili said.
The Russia-Georgia war lasted five days and following the armed conflict, 228 Georgian civilians, 170 soldiers and 14 police officers had lost their lives.
The war displaced 192,000 people in Georgia. Many were able to return to their homes after the war but more than 20,200 people still remain displaced.
Tomorrow marks the ninth anniversary of the most tragic day in Georgia’s recent history – the beginning of the five-day war between Russia and Georgia on August 8 in 2008.
Georgia’s Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance announced the four men, who had served at the Ministry’s Special Forces, would be awarded the Ministry’s highest award for Defending the Law and Honour.
Tbilisi calls for world unity in response to crisis
When the clock strikes midnight tonight, Georgia will mark the eighth anniversary of Russia’s aggression and occupation of Georgian territory, as a sovereign, independent state.
Today marks the eighth anniversary of the most tragic day in Georgia’s recent history – the beginning of the brief but violent August 8 war between Russia and Georgia. The country is remembering those who lost their lives to defend their homeland.
A large group of Georgian citizens have formed a human chain to protest Russian occupation of Georgian territories. The protest took place near the occupation line.
Photographs from the frontlines of the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia are on display in Tbilisi through today to mark an anniversary of the five-day conflict and pay homage to the memory of its victims.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited Abkhazia, one of the two Russian occupied regions of Georgia, Russian media report.
Lithuania, Poland, Latvia and Ukraine have expressed their full support and solidarity for Georgia on the ninth anniversary of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
Georgia is today commemorating a group of heroes of the Russia-Georgia war who heroically sacrificed their lives in a ‘David and Goliath’ type battle that took place in Shindisi Village in central Georgia.
Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia has unveiled a monument to those who lost their lives in the 2008 August War today. The monument was installed in the village of Nikozi, near the Russia - occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region at the request of local residents.