A parade dedicated to the Independence Day of Georgia marched on Rustaveli Avenue. According to the schedule, the ceremony lasted for an hour and 40 minutes. On the platform stood Mikheil Saakashvili president of Georgia, David Kezerashvili a defense minister, Zaza Gogava chief of general headquarter and Ilia II Catholic Patriarch. President has delivered a speech before the parade.
He greeted the diplomatic corps. He talked about state security and challenges. Besides he underlined the importance of the responsibility of government toward IDPs from Abkhazia. Almost 15 thousand soldiers participated in the parade. There were presented heavy vehicles and 40 units of flying objects. Aircraft and airplanes flew over Tbilisi at the end of the parade. President of Georgia rewarded Akhtol Laine-Voul a former Estonian soldier for heroism with an order of honors. A former soldier did not open fire against Georgian demonstrants despite the order in 1956 during military service in Gudauta. Because of resistance, he was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment in Siberia. Among the soldiers participating in the parade were 3,700 reservists. They arrived in Tbilisi from Telavi, Mukhrovani, and Senaki military grounds. There were also presented 1st and 19th battalions of reservists headed by David Kirkitadze MP and David Udesiani chief of the city sports department.
