Abkhazians, our brothers and sisters, we should reconcile. We, Georgians, can not image ourselves without you, we should join the European family together, a Georgian opera star, mezzo-soprano, a founder of the charity foundation Desire Tree, Nino Surguladze, stated at a charity concert in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Tuesday, which coincided with the tragic day for Georgia - Tbilisi’s loss of control over its currently Russian-occupied Abkhazia region 29 years ago. 

“Abkhaz brothers and sisters. I appeal to you on this tragic day to take steps for reconciliation. Yes, we should reconcile, we can not imagine our lives without you, we should become one unity again and join the European family holding each other's hands”, Surguladze said.

Standing on the stage, Surguladze stressed it was a “day full of pain”, but noted that the “kindness of this evening, which is dedicated to the children victims of war from Abkhazia and Ukraine, will brighten the day and fill it with love”. 

Expressing her happiness to see a number of Georgians and other nationals attending the event, the opera star said that her generation was also aware of the cruelty of war. 

“We are also children of war, our generation, and we know exactly what pain Ukrainian people, children and their families are going through now”, said the mezzo-soprano. 

The concert was broadcasted live by Rustavi 2 TV channel, with one charity call costing ₾1.