Georgian PM pays homage to fallen heroes on anniversary of fall of capital of Russian-occupied Abkhazia
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday paid homage to the memory of heroes fallen for the country’s unity. Photo: Government press office
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday paid homage and put wreaths at the memorial of heroes fallen for the country’s unity on an anniversary of the 1993 fall of Sokhumi, the capital of the Russian-occupied north-western region of Abkhazia, during the war in the region.
The top official visited the memorial with Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze and Government officials, the Government press office said.
The regional capital of Sokhumi fell after the Abkhaz side in the year-long conflict violated a ceasefire agreement between the sides on July 27, 1993 and launched an assault on the city on September 16, after the Georgian side had withdrawn most of its defences as per the agreement.
Between 13,000 to 20,000 ethnic Georgians and approximately 3,000 Abkhaz have been reported killed during the 1992-1993 conflict, which lasted for 13 months and 13 days. Over 250,000 Georgians fled the region and became internally displaced in the country, while more than 2,000 - including about 1,500 ethnic Georgians, up to 200 ethnic Abkhaz and about 100 ethnic Ossetians - were declared missing.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said his country had demonstrated “great and unexpected progress for many” over the past 30 years despite “severe” security challenges, in comments on an anniversary of the 1993 fall of Sokhumi, the capital of the Russian-occupied north-western region of Abkhazia, during the war in the region.
Flags on state institutions across Georgia were on Wednesday lowered to half-mast to mark an anniversary of the fall of Sokhumi, the capital of the Russian-occupied north-western region of Abkhazia during the war in the region in 1993.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said peace was “the foundation upon which a united, strong and developed country should be built” together with the “Abkhazian and Ossetian brothers”, in comments marking the 30th anniversary of the fall of Sokhumi, the capital of the Russian-occupied north-western region of Abkhazia during the war in the region in 1993.
Today Georgia is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Abkhazia War, which ended with the territory becoming a breakaway region of Georgia and leaving hundreds of thousands displaced.