Georgia for the first time omits honor guard for local volunteer who fought for Ukraine
A recent and unprecedented event in Georgia has sparked widespread discussion and marked a shift in national memorial traditions for fallen heroes. For the first time in the country's modern history, the body of a Georgian soldier who died fighting alongside Ukraine and was buried in Tbilisi was not greeted by an honor guard during his return from Ukraine. This occurred on Saturday when the coffin of 55-year-old volunteer Vano Nadiradze, who passed away last weekend, likely due to a heart attack, was brought to the airport. Notably, this situation contrasts sharply with previous cases when state ceremonies and honor guards were arranged to commemorate Georgian volunteers who fought and died in Ukraine. The Georgian Ministry of Defense has yet to issue an official statement regarding this matter. Nadiradze’s coffin was received by close relatives, friends, and concerned citizens familiar with his heroic contributions. It is known that since the beginning of the large-scale conflict in Ukraine, Nadiradze had defended Ukraine within the ranks of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Beyond his military service, he was a media personality and actively engaged in informing the Georgian public about the events of the Russia-Ukraine war. According to Russian sources, he was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison on charges of mercenarism. Over the course of the war, more than 80 Georgian nationals have lost their lives fighting in Ukraine, including long-term residents and volunteers who arrived at the start of hostilities. Earlier this year, Georgian fighter Kaha Tilidze was killed, and at the end of 2024, volunteer Badri Kvaratskhelia died in Kursk region. These events underscore the high level of sacrifice among Georgia’s people and highlight the ongoing complexities and emotional toll of the ongoing conflict, prompting societal and governmental reflection on how to honor those who serve and perish in this war.