Tbilisi: Georgia marked the 18th death anniversary of the ‘National Hero- Zaza Damenia’ on August 16. Zaza is very well remembered for his valour and courage during the times of hostilities in the country’s now occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region in August,2004 . He went on save the lives of his fellow members, while sacrificing his own life. These hostilities claimed the lives of 16 service members of Georgia.
At the beginning phase of his career, Zaza served during the year 1992-1993 dispute in north-western Georgia’s Abkhazia region in a reconnaissance unit of the armed forces. Following this in 2004, he was sent as part of commando battalion to another conflict zone in central Georgia’s Tshkinvali region with an ambition to protect the Georgian villages during August that year.
Despite sustaining major injuries , he stayed on the battle field. His courage and selflessness knew no limits as he saved the life of his fellow members. Zaza used his body to cover the explosion of the grenade thrown into his foxhole , sacrificing himself to save the other service personnel.
Zaza’s exceptional bravery got him rewarded posthumously by then-president Mikheil Saakashvil.
Corporal Zaza Damenia served in the third company of 11th Mechanized Light Infantry Commando Battalion in Vaziani. He fought nearby Tskhinvali entrance in August 2004. He saved his brothers-in-arms from imminent death on cost of his own life. Zaza Damenia covered himself the grenade in the trench and saved the lives of three servicemen making him the ‘National Hero’.
