Heroism of servicemembers killed in 2008 war a responsibility to “maintain peace for better future” - Georgian Reconciliation Minister

Tea Akhvlediani, the Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, said on Thursday the “deeds and heroism” of Georgian servicemembers killed in the 2008 Russia-Georgia war placed a “big responsibility” on the Government to ensure peaceful development of the country, in comments commemorating the anniversary of a battle in central Georgia’s Shindisi village during the conflict where a group of Georgian soldiers heroically lost their lives in an unequal engagement with the invading forces.

• Georgian PM commemorates soldiers fallen in Shindisi Battle of Russia-Georgia 2008 war

In her remarks, Akhvledinai suggested that August 11 - the date of the clash - was both “one of the most outstanding episodes of Georgian history and one of the tragic days” that saw most of the Georgian soldiers who engaged the enemy killed in the battle.

The Shindisi Battle is one of the most remarkable episodes of heroism in the history of Georgia, but also one of the most tragic days with the loss of 17 young men in an unequal encounter with the Russian troops. The dedication and the heroism place a huge responsibility [on the Government] to do its utmost to maintain peace and ensure peaceful development of the country”, Akhvlediani said. 

In the engagement, a 21-member detachment of Georgian soldiers came face-to-face with Russian troops in the village of Shindisi on the fourth day after the start of the conflict. 

Being greatly outnumbered, they were ordered to surrender by the Russian troops but issued a strong refusal and inflicted significant losses on the enemy in a 45-minute subsequent uneven battle that also left 17 of the 21 Georgian servicemembers killed.