Georgian President marks independence referendum anniversary, highlights historic choice for freedom

Georgian president Mikheil Kavelashvili on Tuesday marked the anniversary of the country’s independence referendum by highlighting its historic significance and lasting impact.

In a social media message, Kavelashvili recalled that on March 31, 1991, the Georgian people made a decisive declaration to the world, choosing independence and freedom.

He emphasised that such unity is rarely seen in the nation’s history, noting that society stood firmly united around shared values.

“On March 31, 1991, the Georgian people loudly declared to the whole world - Georgia chooses independence and freedom. Our history rarely remembers such unity of the nation and a public united around common values. The results of the referendum on the restoration of independence have become the unshakable legal foundation of sovereign Georgia, on which we have been building our statehood for 35 years”, the president said.

He emphasised that it was the duty of the Georgian people to protect the greatest achievement, for which ancestors fought for generations.

“It is our duty to take care of the most precious heritage that has defined our present, to strengthen sovereignty and continue to move towards building an even stronger, more dignified and united Georgia - a state where only the Georgian people will control their own destiny”, he concluded.