Georgia marks 13 years since Shindisi battle

By Khatia Bzhalava

Thursday, August 12

The 17 fallen warriors of the Shindisi battle are Aleksandre Oniani, Emzar Tsilosani, Vepkhia Jishkariani, Zviad Katsadze, Teimuraz Beridze, Ilia Gabunia, Ilia Sheklashvili, Irakli Janelidze, Kakha Koshadze, Levan Mikeladze, Marlen Baramia, Mikheil Dvalishvili, Nikoloz Porchkhidze, Roman Zoidze, Ruslan Tsuladze, Peliks Kakauridze and Shmagi Kupatadze.

Junior sergeant Aleksandre Oniani who died in the Battle of Shindisi was awarded the Order of Georgian National Hero, the highest state award.

The Battle of Shindisi, one of the most notable and significant clashes in the August War, took place on August 11, 2008, between Georgian and Russian militaries. The Russians greatly outnumbered Georgians and ordered them to surrender, but Georgians refused. During the unequal battle, which lasted for 45 minutes, 17 Georgian soldiers of the II Infantry Brigade of the Georgian Armed Forces were killed. Only four soldiers survived the confrontation.

“The heroes of the Shindisi battle set an example of one of the most outstanding sacrifices in our history. This day proves that there are no big or small battles as any battle may become a lesson of devotion to the homeland for future generations,” Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated.

As the PM announced yesterday, at the decision of President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili, one of the heroes of the Shindisi battle Aleksandre Oniani was granted the highest state award Order of Georgian National Hero. Junior sergeant Oniani did not surrender alive to the enemy and blew himself up in the last minutes of the battle. As the president remarked, the self-sacrifice of the heroes of Shindisi is a proud page in the history of Georgia. “The Country that has such devoted soldiers has no excuse for mourning and despair,” she noted.

Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Tea Akhvlediani, and the Commander of the Defense Forces, Major General Giorgi Matiashvili paid tribute to the memory of Shindisi heroes and laid wreath at their memorial in Gori. “On this day, the story of self-sacrifice of Georgian soldiers, fight against the enemy and outstanding heroism was written in Shindisi,” the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality said.

The Russo-Georgia war began on August 8, 2008, and lasted five days. 228 Georgian civilians, 170 soldiers and 14 police officers were killed during the conflict. Around 30,000 citizens of Georgia were forced to abandon their homes in the occupied Tskhinvali region.