Recruits across Georgia take oath on Independence Day

New recruits of the Georgian Defence Forces took their oath in six cities across the country to launch celebrations of Independence Day on Sunday.

They pledged their allegiance at the Freedom Square in Tbilisi and at the grounds of monasteries in Georgia’s eastern and western regions.

The recruits were addressed by officials, including Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who told the servicemembers it was their merit and Georgia’s common achievement to stand “free, proud and indomitable after many wars and conquest attempts”.

It is our constant responsibility to take care of free and independent Georgia and not concede it to anyone”, she added.

In his address, Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani paid tribute to the heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Georgia and world peace and expressed his “special respect” to their families. He especially congratulated Independence Day to the veterans and wounded servicemembers, “whose undefeated spirit is an example for us all”.

I want to appeal to our Abkhazian and Ossetian brothers and sisters, we will be able to protect and strengthen our identity only in a united, strong and free Georgia”, the Minister noted, adding “such Georgia” would take its “rightful place” in the European family.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said this day symbolised the “insatiable desire of the population of Georgia to gain the right to decide their future, to establish a worthy place among other nations and to finally establish a safe environment for development”. “This day is the result of bloodshed efforts in the fight against enemies for centuries and relentless struggle for their motherland”, he added.