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The News in Brief

Friday, July 5, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff

Georgian Officials Mourn Pilot Kakhaber Zurabashvili Following Su-25 Crash

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Speaker of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, Minister of Defense Irakli Chikovani, Deputy Ministers, and high-ranking officials of the Georgian Defense Forces gathered in Gori to express their condolences to the family and relatives of pilot Kakhaber Zurabashvili. Zurabashvili tragically died in the crash of a Su-25 aircraft belonging to the Georgian Defense Forces.

Since the early morning, a large crowd has formed near the residence of the deceased pilot. Heads and representatives of various structural units of the Defense Forces have been arriving to offer their condolences to the bereaved family.

President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili was also in attendance at the funeral, showing solidarity and support to the grieving family.

The Su-25 aircraft crashed on July 2 during planned training exercises. Kakhaber Zurabashvili, a pilot in the Aviation and Air Command of the Defense Forces, lost his life in the incident. He will be laid to rest in Gori on Saturday, July 6.



Georgia's National Football Team Receives GEL 30 Million Bonus for Euro 2024 Debut

Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Cartu Foundation have awarded GEL 30 million to the Georgian national football team for their remarkable performance in the group stage of the European Championship, advancing to the round of 16.

The captain of the Georgian national team, Guram Kashia, expressed gratitude on behalf of the team. "We thank Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Cartu Foundation for supporting football in Georgia. This is vital for the sport's development in our country. We also want to thank our fans for their incredible support. The scenes on the streets of Tbilisi on July 2 filled us with joy and energy. With this unity and teamwork, we will strive for more successes," Kashia said.

The bonus has already been received by the team members as a reward for their historic achievement.