Professionals of the Coast Guard Department of the Border Police of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs on Monday received awards for their service in an occasion marking the 25th anniversary of the body in western Georgia's port city of Poti.
The employees of the Department were distinguished for their “exceptional service” with the awards, the Ministry said, adding Border Police head Nikoloz Sharadze highlighted their “important role” in upholding maritime security of the country through service in “challenging” marine security and safety missions.
He also said the anniversary was being marked on the back of “significant successes”, with NATO granting the Department the status of an operational partner for its Sea Guardian maritime security operation last year.
Sharadze said the milestone had been reached after law enforcement tactical units of the Georgian Coast Guard “effectively” completed a four-year evaluation for NATO’s Operational Capability Concept Evaluation and Feedback Programme.
In celebrations of the anniversary, the Border Police head also laid a wreath at the memorial of servicemembers who died in the line of duty in the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia.