Georgian President praises military sacrifice on Defence Forces Day

Georgian president Mikheil Kavelashvili on Thursday highlighted the Day of the Defence Forces as a special date for the state to address with the greatest respect and gratitude those patriots who protect the sovereignty, peace and security of the country at the cost of their own lives.

In his speech, the president emphasised that the history of the Georgian people is inextricably linked to the struggle for freedom, noting that for centuries, ancestors fought tirelessly to preserve their identity, faith, and land.

“April 30, the Day of the Georgian Defence Forces, is a special date for our state. This is a day when we address with the greatest honour and gratitude those patriots who serve with dignity every day and protect the sovereignty, peace and security of our country at the cost of their own lives. Georgian Defence Forces Day is not only a professional holiday for the military personnel, but also an expression of the unity of the entire public, state responsibility and national self-awareness”, he said.

“The history of the Georgian people is a history of struggle for freedom. We can proudly declare that for centuries our ancestors fought tirelessly to protect their identity, faith, and land. It was this continuous principled struggle that shaped our national character and the inner strength that has carried our country through many historical trials”, he continued.

Kavelashvili further added that military service was one of the main pillars of national unity.

“For us, Georgians, military service is not just a profession. It is a continuation of a deep tradition that is passed down from generation to generation. A tradition that unites the past, present and future into one whole, and is one of the main pillars of our national unity”, he concluded.