Deputy State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Lia Gigauri met with young people enrolled in Georgian higher education institutions from occupied Gali district of Abkhazia. Lia Gigauri personally congratulated the youth on enrollment and wished them success.

“It is very exciting and it is a great honor for me to congratulate the students who have been educated under the barbed-wire occupation. They were not intimidated by the pressure, intimidation, or restriction of education in their mother tongue. They surprised us with their dedication, motivation, education, freedom, thought, courage, belief in success and a high readiness for self-realization. In order to create a better future, they did not fear barriers, pressure, prohibitions, restrictions and achieved their goal. We have become convinced that they will be the leading force in building a united Georgia. We all need to learn from you such a deliberate struggle, to acquire such inner strength and faith in education”, - said the Deputy State Minister.

Successful graduates of the occupied Gali district were awarded by gold and silver medals at a special reception.

According to Deputy State Minister Lia Gigauri, the unprecedented number of young people from the occupied territories is the result of the Government's peace initiative "A Step to a Better Future".