Gov’t gifts flat to survivor of suicide attack in Afghanistan, PM says soldier is hero

The Georgian government has gifted a flat to Senior Lieutenant Iveri Buadze, who received severe injuries during the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan back in 2017, after he was injured during a suicide attack while on duty.

He is a hero. Iveri saved the lives of three soldiers and received severe injuries. I want to thank his family for bringing up this hero. He is a symbol of the bravery and strength of the Georgian people,” Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said.

The PM stated that renovation work on the flat will be completed in the autumn.

The soldier, who returned to Georgia after long treatment abroad earlier this month, will continue serving in the Georgian Armed Forces.

Buadze and his family thanked the government for their “continued support.”

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze praised Buadge for his merit. Photo: Prime Minister's press office. 

Buadze was severely injured in Afghanistan’s Parwan Province in 2017 and returned to Georgia on July 11 after a long course of treatment and rehabilitation in the United States.

While involved in the NATO Resolute Support mission Buadze supervised a team of Georgian soldiers on 6 September 2017 as they visually inspected vehicles prior to entering Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan.

A suicide bomber on a motorcycle in the line of vehicles detonated his explosives and Buadze received life-threatening injuries.

Two other Georgian servicemen Sergeant Giorgi Tsikarishvili and soldier Irakli Kuchukhidze were also injured but Iveri Buadze’s health condition was critical.

Iveri Buadze was first sent for treatment to Germany and afterwards to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington for rehabilitation.