“Georgian Defence Forces Day, marked on April 30, is a date of singular importance to our state. It is a day on which we address, with the deepest honour and gratitude, those patriots who serve with distinction each and every day, and who defend the sovereignty, peace, and security of our country at the cost of their own lives,” declared President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili in his address at the ceremonial event dedicated to Georgia’s Defence Forces Day.

As the President noted, the Georgian people carry within them a history of struggle for freedom, one in which their forebears fought, generation after generation, with unwavering resolve to defend their identity, their faith, and their land.

“Georgia’s Defence Forces Day is not merely a professional holiday for our servicemen and women. It is an expression of the unity of our entire society, of civic responsibility, and of national self-awareness.

The history of the Georgian people is the history of the struggle for freedom. We can say with pride that for centuries, our ancestors fought without rest to protect their identity, their faith, and their homeland. It was precisely this unbroken, principled struggle that shaped our national character, and the inner strength that has carried our country through many a great trial throughout history,” President Kavelashvili declared.

He further noted that military service stands as one of the foremost pillars of national unity.

“For us Georgians, military service is not merely a profession. It is the continuation of a profound tradition, passed down from generation to generation, a tradition that binds past, present, and future into one, and which stands as one of the principal foundations of our national unity,” the President said.