Georgia marks birthday of national hero Giorgi Antsukhelidze

Georgia is commemorating the birthday of Giorgi Antsukhelidze, a national hero who was killed after being captured during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. He would have turned 41.

Antsukhelidze was born in the village of Kvemo Alvani, in Georgia’s Akhmeta municipality. Serving as a junior sergeant in the 41st Battalion of the 4th Infantry Brigade, he took part in the August 2008 conflict. On 9 August, he was captured by Russian forces and Tskhinvali (South Ossetian) fighters and later died under torture.

He was posthumously awarded in 2013 with the title of National Hero of Georgia, the country’s highest honour. Antsukhelidze had earlier been decorated with the Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali (1st Class) and the medal For Devotion to the Motherland.

Today, his name is carried by Georgia’s Sergeant Academy, a military training institution dedicated to preparing non-commissioned officers.