Ruling party Sec Gen emphasises temporary nature of occupation, Georgia’s territorial integrity

Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Sunday that the sacrifice of those who died during the war in Abkhazia was not in vain, emphasising the Government’s responsibility to build a strong, peaceful and united Georgia.

In his remarks, Kaladze described September 27 as one of the most difficult dates in Georgia’s modern history and paid tribute to the soldiers and civilians who lost their lives during the war.

“September 27 is one of the most difficult dates in the history of our country. Glory and honour to the Georgian heroes who died fighting for the independence of their homeland and to the civilians who lost their lives in the war”, he said.

The official emphasised that the anniversary was a reminder of the human cost of the conflict, including the loss of life, displacement and the separation of people from their homes.

“Thirty-three years have passed since the day Georgia lost not only a city, but also the heart of the country. Time has not eased the pain left by this war - the lives lost, hundreds of thousands of displaced people, the loss of historic land, and, most importantly, the desire to return home”, he stressed.

“I believe that the struggle of our heroes was not in vain. Occupation is temporary, while the homeland is eternal. Abkhazia was, is and will be Georgia”, Kaladze concluded.

September 27 marks 33 years since the fall of Sokhumi, the decisive event of the 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia. The hostilities began on August 14, 1992, and lasted 13 months and 13 days, ending with the fall of Sokhumi on September 27, 1993.

The war resulted in Georgia losing control over Abkhazia, while the region subsequently operated as a de facto separate entity. Georgia and much of the international community consider Abkhazia to be under Russian occupation.

Estimates of the number of people killed and displaced during the conflict vary. Georgian sources have cited more than 10,000 deaths on the Georgian side and between 250,000 and 300,000 people displaced, most of them ethnic Georgians.