Defence Minister Visits Vashlijvari Brotherhood Cemetery

21 years have passed since the fall of Sokhumi. On September 27 Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Alasania together with deputy ministers and Chief of General Staff of the GAF, Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze paid a tribute to the Georgian heroes fallen for the unity of Georgia at Vashlijvari Brotherhood Cemetery. They put flowers on the symbolic graves of the warriors died in Abkhazian War. “Georgian heroes gave us example how we should serve and defend our country. Their example should be exemplary for every citizen in order to have strong will of fight and resistance. Facing many challenges today, every Georgian should be ready to defend their country as these warriors did. That is why today we paid tribute to all the fallen heroes on September 27. Our army, our armed forces is growing up on their example. I am sure they will stand for Georgia as these heroes”, said Minister of Georgia Irakli Alasania.

Chief of General Staff of the GAF, Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze and the top brass of the MoD visited the holy Trinity Cathedral the same day to attend the religious service dedicated to the commemoration of the warriors fallen for Georgia’s unity held by Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II. Defence Minister also laid the wreath on the Memorial of Heroes fallen for the territorial integrity of Georgia. Irakli Alasania paid a tribute to the Georgian heroes together with President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili. Along with the family members and relatives of the fallen warriors, they held a minute of silence in paying tribute to their memory. Military orchestra of the Defence Ministry performed requiem and Georgia’s national anthem at the commemoration ceremony. The armed hostilities broke out in Abkhazia on 14 August 1992 and lasted for 13 months and 13 days.