“Today is a day of singular distinction for our country. Thirty-five years ago, on April 30, 1991, alongside the restoration of independence, the foundations of our modern Defence Forces were laid with the induction of the first conscripts. Since that day, this date has become a symbol of the Georgian martial spirit and of the strength of our statehood,” declared Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze in his address at the ceremony held in Vaziani to mark the 35th anniversary of the founding of Georgia’s Defence Forces.

He affirmed that the Georgian armed forces have always been, and remain, the foremost guarantor of Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

“Our armed forces have always been, and remain, the supreme guarantor of Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. From the very day of their founding, the Defence Forces have defended the freedom of the homeland with honour in every battle. At the same time, Georgian servicemen and women have fought alongside their partners with dedication in various corners of the world, in the cause of global peace and security. Through your professionalism and courage, you have earned the highest international recognition and the profound trust of our partners.

Today, with a heavy heart and the deepest respect, we recall the heroes who fell for the homeland. I bow before the memory of those who gave the most precious thing of all, their own lives, for the unity of Georgia and for peace in the world. Their devotion is an inseparable and eternal part of our country’s history,” the Prime Minister declared.