“Thirty-six years after April 9, amidst new challenges in the modern world, the ideals of the Georgian nation—our country’s independence and unity, and the pursuit of a politically and economically strong Georgia—remain steadfast. Just as society united on April 9, 1989, we need that same spirit of solidarity today,” stated Levan Davitashvili, First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development.

According to Davitashvili, the sacrifice of those who fell on April 9 “has become a legend, a symbol of courage, forever etched in the history of Georgia.”

“April 9 is a deeply significant date for each of us—and for all citizens of Georgia. It marks the day when love for our homeland and the desire for independence united the entire nation across generations in the fight against the Soviet regime. Today, we honour the memory of those who lost their lives on April 9. These people sacrificed everything for our homeland and for a better, freer future for the generations to come. The most important legacy of their sacrifice is that it was not in vain; it became the impetus for our struggle for independence, ultimately culminating in the restoration of Georgia’s freedom on April 9, 1991, two years later. Once again, we express our profound gratitude to them for their heroism and sacrifice, which paved the way for the achievement we cherish as free Georgia,” remarked Levan Davitashvili.