Day of mourning in Georgia.Georgia prepares to bury three soldiers killed in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan

The government of Georgia has declared 16 May as a day of national mourning as the country prepares to bury three Georgian soldiers killed in a terrorist attack at Helmand Province in Afghanistan where the servicemen were serving with the large Georgian contingent attached with the ISAF international forces. Flags will fly at half mast on all public building as the bodies of the three soldiers are repatriated for their funeral later today.

The three military servicemen, Sergeant Zviad Davitadze, Corporal Aleksandre Kvitsinadze and Corporal Vladimer Shanava were members of the 43rd Light Infantry Battallion of Georgia's 4th Infantry Brigade.

 The soldiers are expected to be repatriated to Georgia today for burial after a ceremony at St George Cathedral.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Prime Minister Bidhzina Ivanishvili and Defence Minister Irakli Alasania have all paid tribute to the memory of the fallen soldiers. Expressions of condolences were also received from the representatives of the United States Government and other foreign countries.

Twenty seven other Georgian soldiers were also injured when a suicide bomber ramed a car into their base in Helmand Province.

source: commonspace.eu

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
More clashes between police and protestors in Tbilisi as government pushes through "foreign agents law"

More clashes between police and protestors in Tbilisi as government pushes through "foreign agents law"

On May 1, the Georgian government passed through Parliament the controversial “Foreign Agents Law” in its second reading with 83 votes in favor and 23 against, despite strong opposition from international partners, large segments of Georgian society and opposition MPs and politicians. Outside parliament massive public protests saw clashes between police and protestors President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili addressed the protesters in the evening of May 1, when the situation on Chitadze Street, by the gate of the parliament, became tense as several youths tried to break through the closed gates into the yard of the parliament. She said she stands by the protesters’ side. She called the rallies “extraordinary” saying that the whole world is watching Georgians demonstrate the attitude, determination, and perseverance. She said these qualities are important in order to win in the long term struggle, the final stage of which will be the Parliamentary elections, which “will show that Georgia will never be Russia.” Salome Zurabishvili addressed the youth “with flame in their hearts” as she called them, saying that “some things are not necessary” and appealed “to leave along the gates of the Parliament” saying that “nothing happens there”. Noting that “our struggle” is no longer about the Foreign Agents Law”, she said that the longer-term struggle is about the elections” and about “all the laws that this government has passed that distance us from the EU”. That is the goal, she stressed. Noting that it’s Holy Week, she appealed for peaceful protests and to avoid provoking violence, saying: “We will show the world what Georgia and its youth can do.”

Popular

Editor's choice
News
More clashes between police and protestors in Tbilisi as government pushes through "foreign agents law"

More clashes between police and protestors in Tbilisi as government pushes through "foreign agents law"

On May 1, the Georgian government passed through Parliament the controversial “Foreign Agents Law” in its second reading with 83 votes in favor and 23 against, despite strong opposition from international partners, large segments of Georgian society and opposition MPs and politicians. Outside parliament massive public protests saw clashes between police and protestors President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili addressed the protesters in the evening of May 1, when the situation on Chitadze Street, by the gate of the parliament, became tense as several youths tried to break through the closed gates into the yard of the parliament. She said she stands by the protesters’ side. She called the rallies “extraordinary” saying that the whole world is watching Georgians demonstrate the attitude, determination, and perseverance. She said these qualities are important in order to win in the long term struggle, the final stage of which will be the Parliamentary elections, which “will show that Georgia will never be Russia.” Salome Zurabishvili addressed the youth “with flame in their hearts” as she called them, saying that “some things are not necessary” and appealed “to leave along the gates of the Parliament” saying that “nothing happens there”. Noting that “our struggle” is no longer about the Foreign Agents Law”, she said that the longer-term struggle is about the elections” and about “all the laws that this government has passed that distance us from the EU”. That is the goal, she stressed. Noting that it’s Holy Week, she appealed for peaceful protests and to avoid provoking violence, saying: “We will show the world what Georgia and its youth can do.”