Georgia: Georgia is celebrating its Independence Day today, simultaneously marking the 104th anniversary of the establishment of its First Democratic Republic.
The capital Tbilisi and the western city of Kutaisi will hold events organised by the country’s Foreign Ministry to showcase historical and contemporary achievements of the country on its path to European integration, with the major theme of this year’s event being – Towards Europe.
The Foreign Ministry’s programme will feature an exhibition space on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, separated into two parts, as part of a wider programme involving other institutions in events across the nation.
In one section, historical ties between Georgia and Europe will be highlighted, while the other will focus on the country’s progress toward European integration between the restoration of its independence in 1991 and the present.
According to the Ministry, the event will include a variety of entertainment activities for both children and adults, including “virtual travel” to European towns and a reenactment of the signing of Georgia’s Act of Independence.
Partner countries will also commemorate the anniversary by lighting up major locations in the colours of the Georgian flag.
The Georgian National Council approved the formal establishment of the democratic republic in the aftermath of Russia’s 1917 revolution with its Act of Independence on May 26, 1918. The country’s independence lasted three years before being overrun by the Russian Red Army in 1921 and absorbed into the Soviet Union.
The 1991 restoration of independence took the 1918 declaration as its basis, leading to the May 26 date being celebrated on occasion and being a public holiday across the country.
