From Tbilisi to Mestia, here is how Georgia is celebrating its 30th Independence Day

From the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi to the highland Georgian town of Mestia, the country is celebrating Independence Day today, commemorating May 26, 1918 – the day when the Act of Independence was adopted, establishing the First Democratic Republic of Georgia.

The main location of the ceremony was Freedom Square in central Tbilisi. However, the ceremony also took place in Svaneti, Adjara, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kakheti and Mtskheta-Mtianeti regions.

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After playing the Georgian national anthem, the participants of the ceremonies across Georgia observed a minute of silence in memory of the people who died for the independence of Georgia.

The event was followed by an oath-taking ceremony, during which 247 recruits took their oath all together in Tbilisi and in above-mentioned five regions of Georgia to serve the country faithfully.

Soldiers marching down the Rustaveli Avenue. People greeted them with applause. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Top Georgian figures as well as the president of Poland have addressed the army and the people on the day, praising the country’s past, the merit of the Georgian armed forces and focusing on the country’s Euro-Atlantic future.

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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili opened the official part of the ceremony and said that it is symbolic that after 100 years the remains of Georgia's national hero and commander-in-chief of the first Democratic Republic of Georgia, General Giorgi Kvinitadze, have been returned home from France. 

It is May 26 and General Giorgi Kvinitadze is returning to his dream country, which regained its independence exactly thirty years ago. It returns to a free, independent, democratic Georgia, proud of its culture and identity, close to Europe and blended with its values. This in itself is a victory over 70 years of occupation and the tragedy of the Soviet conquest", Zurabishvili said.

Zurabishvli said that Georgia needs to create its own approach and plan to integrate in the EU, into NATO and to overcome the occupation.

We can all be proud that the country has taken some right steps to get out of the whirlpool of controversy. Multipartyism was restored in the parliament and the parliament was able to reach an agreement on the election bill. We have reached this first stage with the involvement of the EU and the US, now we have to move to the next stage of self-government elections and take our country to a new level of democracy and statehood. It is up to us alone to complete the reforms and make our state exemplary. This is how true independence is established. The more independence, the more responsibility", said Zurabishvili.

After the ceremony, people took the stage, taking photos and cogratulating each other on the day. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

After the president, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili took the stage. He said that May 26 is an expression of the country’s national identity, centuries-old culture and strive for freedom.

He congratulated the Independence Day to all the citizens of Georgia, to the church, army, veterans, recruits who took oath, to the citizens living beyond the occupation line.

Garibashvili said that based on the values of state independence, 'we continue to build a united and strong country' that will be a full-fledged part of the European and Euro-Atlantic space.

Our government has made significant progress in strengthening democratic values ​​and establishing sustainable state institutions. Our cooperation with NATO and our key strategic partner, the United States, has deepened. In 2024, Georgia will apply for EU membership, thus taking an important step towards realising our ancestors' European dream. We create better conditions for the well-being of our people. We are taking important steps to overcome the global coronavirus pandemic and give a new impetus to the economic recovery", Garibashvili said.

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Kakhaber Kuchava also delivered a speech. He said that the restoration of statehood has required the greatest efforts of many generations, and its preservation still requires no less work and dedication in order to strengthen the Georgian state.

Armoured vehicles of the Ministry of Defence were presented at Freedom Square. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Kuchava said that the choice of the political party in power is 'a peaceful, consistent and result-oriented policy, so that we can overcome the challenges as quickly as possible and develop the country irreversibly'.

The President of Poland,  Andrzej Duda, who also attended the ceremony, said in his speech that 'there is enough room for friends' in NATO and the European Union and it is necessary for Georgia to continue reforms.

Georgians, we are waiting for you in the united Europe, because you have been a part of its heritage for centuries. Georgians, we are waiting for you in NATO, because you are a proud nation that deserves freedom, security and prosperity", Duda said.

Duda reaffirmed that Poland and Polish people are reliable allies of Georgia 'who make every effort to support Georgia and its aspirations for integration into Euro-Atlantic structures'.

Minister of Defence Juansher Burchuladze also congratulated the whole of Georgia the day. He said that the Georgian Defense Forces has developed into a modern and combative force that is always ready to defend the homeland and take care to strengthen global security.

The main idea of Georgia and the choice of the Georgian people was and is Christianity and the coexistence of the citizens of Georgia in a tolerant and free environment. In its defense, the Georgian military spirit was formed, whose aspiration for freedom and Georgian courage will inevitably lead to living in a free, united, democratic state", Burchuladze said.

At the end of the event, newly modernised Su-25 fighter jets flew over the Freedom Square in Tbilisi as well as over Kutaisi and Batumi on the background of the performance of famous Georgian son Chakrulo by the ensembles Rustavi and Basiani.