President Kavelashvili on Independence Day: Georgia survived by defending faith, identity and language

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili has congratulated the country on Independence Day, describing 26 May as the defining date in the history and future of the Georgian nation.

Speaking at an official Independence Day ceremony on Tuesday, Kavelashvili offered special congratulations to new military servicemen who took the oath of allegiance and earned “the name of Georgian soldier”.

The president said Georgia restored its statehood 107 years ago after centuries of annexation and that the country’s ancestors preserved the idea of Georgian statehood through “the sword, the pen, prayer and devoted work”.

Kavelashvili said Georgia survived numerous historical hardships because it defended what he described as its highest values - faith, identity, traditions and native language.

He also stressed the role of the Georgian Orthodox Church in preserving national identity, historical memory and spirituality throughout centuries.

Referring to the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity becoming the state religion of Georgia, Kavelashvili said the date underlined the inseparable connection between Georgian history and faith.

The president added that Georgia’s strength historically came from being a place of peaceful coexistence for people of different religions and cultures.