Tbilisi. On Thursday, April 9, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland laid a wreath to Memorial in Rustaveli Avenue to commemorate people, who had died 26 years ago, the U.S. Embassy press-service reports.
"The United States joins all Georgians, who are united today in honoring the memory of those people, who peacefully demonstrated 26 years ago in support of Georgia's independence and who tragically lost their lives. I was a diplomat at our embassy in Moscow at the time and I personally remember what a tragedy this was and so it is a very sad day. At the same time we remember that they did not die in vain and that the independent Georgia which they were demonstrating for now exists and is a strong, successful country and it's an opportunity to recommit ourselves together to supporting Georgia's sovereignty and independence, but their memory will live forever", the U.S. Embassy's press-service cites Norland as saying.
On April 9 Georgia marked the Day of Restoration of the Independence and 26 years since the events of 1989 - the dispersal of the peaceful rally in Tbilisi. The peaceful demonstration of the national movement's members in Rustaveli avenue was dispersed by the Soviet Army troops, who used tear gas, entrenching shovels and hardware. As a result, 21 persons died and dozens were seriously injured