State Minister Tea Akhvlediani, together with President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, and representatives of the executive and legislative branches, paid tribute to the memory of the soldiers who died heroically during the 2008 Russo-Georgian War at the Mukhatgverdi Brothers’ Cemetery.

The State Minister spoke to the parents and family members of the fallen heroes, expressed her condolences, and reaffirmed her support on behalf of the government.

Tea Akhvlediani also paid tribute to the heroes who died in the 2008 August War in Gori. The State Minister laid a wreath at the Gori Heroes Memorial and, together with representatives of the local government and the Provisional Administration of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Region, attended a funeral service for the souls of the deceased, which was held by the Metropolitan of Gori and Athens, His Eminence Andria.

“Today is especially filled with great sorrow, as we recall the grave loss of our country and people, which is associated with the large-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation carried out 17 years ago and the illegal occupation of our indivisible Tskhinvali region and Abkhazia. Today, traditionally, from Gori, I would like to pay special tribute to the memory of our famous heroes, our patriots, distinguished by true courage and spiritual strength, who sacrificed themselves in the Russian-Georgian war to protect the unity and dignity of the country; and I would like to express my condolences to their families.

Overcoming the grave consequences of armed actions and the ongoing illegal occupation of two regions of our country remains the main task and challenge of our government, which, especially today, makes it clear that there is no alternative to preserving and strengthening peace!

It is precisely by adhering to this principle, implementing our consistent policy, and working closely with international partners that we continue our peacekeeping efforts with the goal and belief that we will surely be able to restore trust and reconciliation among the members of our society temporarily divided by war, and unite the people in a strong, developed, and unified Georgia”, - said Tea Akhvlediani.