Georgia Marks 26 Years Of Independence From USSR

On Friday, Georgia celebrated its twenty-sixth year as an independent country.

Independence Day, considered the most significant national holiday in the Black Sea country of about 5 million, has a double historical meaning. Ninety-nine years ago, on May 26, 1918, the Georgian Democratic Republic was established in the wake of the collapse of the Russian empire. Facing insurmountable internal and external problems, the young country was unable to withstand invasion by the Russian Red Army, and collapsed between February and March 1921 to become a Soviet republic.

After Georgia's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union on April 9, 1991, the government scheduled Georgia's first presidential election for May 26 of that year, increasing the date’s significance for Georgians.

This year’s Independence Day celebrations began with a solemn oath-taking-ceremony for 300 new conscripts welcomed into the Georgian armed forces, held at Freedom Square in Tbilisi on Friday. 

“We showed 26 years ago to the world that Georgia restored its independence. We truly managed to establish a Georgian state, which is really independent with its polity,” said Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili, who officiated the ceremony.

“But the way from independence to freedom is still a ways to go,” he added. “A free country is a country which has a free society, and free society is constituted with free people.”

Country-wide festivities have been themed after the twelfth century Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, as this year coincides with his 850th birthday. Considered the preeminent poet of Georgia’s Golden Age and one of the greatest contributors to Georgian literature, Rustaveli is the author of the national epic poem “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin.” The slogan for this year’s celebrations is “I come from the country of Rustaveli.” 

A week-long celebration of cultural and educational activities kicked off on Friday in the capital, as well as several regions throughout the country including Gori, Batumi, Mtskheta and Marneuli.

Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi is hosting a robot display exhibition and a variety of vendors, ranging from wine, tea and farm products to handicrafts. Over 180 flower growers and collectors from around Georgia are showcasing their flora on Sofika Chiuareli Street.

A gala concert in the city’s Rose Square was held on Friday evening.