THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE ADMINISTRATION

Imereti State Representative Zviad Shalamberidze, First Deputy Levan Sanikidze, Kutaisi Mayor Ioseb Khakhaleishvili and other representatives of the local government laid a wreath at the memorial of the heroes who died in the Russian-Georgian war in Kutaisi and paid tribute to their memory.

"15 years have passed since Russia's armed aggression in Georgia, and today we will once again honor those heroic soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of our country.

This year, these days are especially difficult for us due to the tragedy that unfolded in Racha, where many, many of our fellow citizens died. Search operations are still ongoing in the disaster area. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, their relatives and to the whole of Georgia" - Zviad Shalamberidze.

Clergy paid a prayer for the souls of the heroes who died in the Russian-Georgian war.

In honor of the memory of the dead, state flags are allowed on administrative buildings throughout the country.

The August 2008 war claimed more than 400 lives. 2,232 people were wounded and injured in the war, 1,045 of them were military personnel.