On this, the 31st anniversary of the day of National Unity, we remember the 21 innocent souls who died on the streets of Tbilisi, and the hundreds more who lay injured beside them, the US Embassy to Georgia said in a statement issued today.

“The people of Georgia are not strangers to endurance and sacrifice. On this, the 31st anniversary of the day of National Unity, we remember the 21 innocent souls who died on the streets of Tbilisi, and the hundreds more who lay injured beside them. We honor the memory of those who did not survive to see the freedom and independence they struggled to ensure,” the US Embassy said.

31 years have passed since April 9, 1989 tragedy. On April 9, 1989, 21 people were tragically killed as Soviet troops attacked peaceful protesters in the center of Tbilisi.