Georgian Defence Minister says country’s “strength, determination” stand on “heroism, self-sacrifice” of those fallen in 2008 war

Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani on Thursday paid tribute to those killed during the 2008 war with Russia by saying the “strength and determination of Georgia stand on the heroism and self-sacrifice of such people”.

In his comments over an anniversary of the war at the Mukhatgverdi Cemetery, where servicemembers killed in the war are buried, Chikovani noted the date was “one of the hardest” in the history of modern Georgia.

We paid tribute to the fallen heroes. The strength and determination of Georgia stand on the heroism and self-sacrifice of such people. We at the Ministry of Defence, in the Defence Forces, are one big family - we stand together, side by side [...] with these families and do everything to ensure their needs”, he said.

The Minister also said the then United National Movement Government had “failed to avoid the escalation and the war”.

The criminal nature of the UNM party has been clearly seen by our public under their Government. They had a similar approach and a similar attitude towards the August war. They failed to avoid the escalation, the war [...] If we had such a situation today that UNM was in power, we would be engulfed in the flames of war”, Chikovani claimed.

He also said the current Government was a “responsible” actor “doing everything to protect the interests of the country and ensure peace”.

The 2008 war saw 170 servicemembers and professionals of Georgia’s Ministry of Defence killed, along with 14 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and 224 civilians.

Around 30,000 citizens of the country were forced to abandon their homes in the now-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.

Foreign officials and embassies on Wednesday reaffirmed their “unwavering” support for Georgia’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity on the occasion of the anniversary.