Parliament observes moment of silence in memory of Georgian volunteers killed in Ukraine

A moment of silence was observed on Tuesday at the Georgian Parliament in memory of Georgian volunteers killed in combat action in Ukraine, the Parliament press office said.

Speaker Shalva Papuashvili offered his condolences to families and relatives of the volunteers killed near the city of Bakhmut, the epicentre of current clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces, over the first three days of December.

In recent days, Russia's aggressive war in Ukraine claimed the lives of six more Georgians. Another six families lost a child, a spouse, a brother, a father. On behalf of the Parliament of Georgia, I would like to offer my condolences to their families, friends and the entire Georgia, and ask you to honour the memory of the deceased with a moment of silence”, Papuashvili said.

Avto Rurua, Romeo Pirchakhia, Roland Kvaratskhelia, Badri Markelia and Merab Aladashvili became the latest casualties among Georgian volunteers in Ukraine, while Jambulat Khoperia died on December 1.

The first Georgian volunteer was killed in the conflict on March 18, shortly after the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24, with 33 casualties recorded among the ranks since the conflict broke out.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili sent his condolences on the deaths of Georgian volunteers earlier this month, calling the reported events a “tragedy for us”.