Giorgi Gakharia: Today, we still need the degree of unity that our nation has repeatedly shown, including on April 9, 1989

Today, we still need the degree of unity that our nation has repeatedly shown, including on April 9, 1989, - former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia wrote on social network in connection with April 9.

"For 32 years now, this day has filled us with great pain and pride at the same time.

We grieve and pay tribute to our heroes who were victims of crime of the Soviet army on April 9, 1989.

We are proud of them and the whole of Georgia, of the spirit, unity and attitude of all generations, which brought us freedom in exactly two years - Georgia declared independence and began to build a state.

Today, we still need the degree of unity that our nation has repeatedly shown, including on April 9, 1989, only then will it be possible to build a modern, democratic state", - Gakharia wrote.

For reference, 32 years have passed since the tragedy of April 9, 1989. On this day in front of the Parliament, members of the government, family members and citizens will lay flowers at the April 9 Memorial and pay tribute to the memory of the victims. On the morning of April 9, 1989, Soviet troops raided a peaceful protest near the parliament building in central Tbilisi, resulting in casualties. As a consequence of the raid, 21 people were killed. Thousands of citizens gathered in front of the parliament were poisoned with gas of unknown composition. On April 9, 1991, the then-Supreme Council declared the restoration of Georgia's state independence.