Georgian Students Transferred to Homeland

Georgian cadets deceased as a result of car accident in the state New Jersey were transferred to Georgia this evening. 

Deputy Defence Ministers Gocha Ratiani and Levan Girsiashvili, as well as Chief of General Staff of the GAF, Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze together with his deputies attended the funeral ceremony at Tbilisi International Airport. The family members and relatives of the deceased cadets were at the airport as well. Rector of Davit Agmashenebeli National Defence Academy, Colonel Irakli Gegechkori, top brass of the MoD, GS, NDA and Junkers, as well as the representatives from the U.S. Embassy to Georgia and Georgian MP, Chairman of Defence and Security Committee, Irakli Sesiashvili attended the ceremony to pay a tribute to the Georgian students. 

U.S. Coast Guard Academy delegation led by Rear Admiral David R. Callahan, Georgian Defence Attaché to the USA, LTC Vepkhvia Chalabashvili, as well as Georgian and U.S. group mates of the deceased cadets were on the same board of the plane.

Honored Guard and military orchestra of National Guard were at the airport as well. Military musicians performed requiem at the funeral ceremony. Tomorrow after the civil funeral rite at St. George’s Cathedral, the bodies of the deceased Georgian cadets will be transferred to their families.

Private Soso Makaridze and Private Besarion Gorjoladze died as a result of car accident in the state of New Jersey, USA. 

Ministry of Defence of Georgia undertakes to cover the expenses of delivery the dead bodies of the two Georgian students from the state of New Jersey, USA including the funeral expenditures.