Georgia’s Afghanistan contingent

Georgian soldier killed in Afghanistan

By | August 4th, 2017|Categories: Security|Tags: |

Veruli Bebiashvili, mother of the deceased. (Palitra TV.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian soldier has died in Afghanistan while out on patrol near Bagram Airbase, 60km north of Kabul. Lance sergeant Mdinari Bebiashvili (25) was killed as two suicide bombers attacked his convoy Thursday evening. The platoon that was hit consisted […]

Germany thanks Georgian soldiers for helping repel attack on consulate

By | November 12th, 2016|Categories: Security|Tags: |

Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Germany thanked Afghan and Georgian forces on Friday for repelling an attack on a German consulate in northern Afghanistan the day before. The attack on the consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif ended as the attackers were pushed back by consulate security, […]

Georgia will stay in Afghanistan until the mission is completed

By | July 10th, 2016|Categories: Security|Tags: , , |

Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia will continue its participation in the NATO mission in Afghanistan, Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli said at the alliance’s summit in Warsaw. A meeting was held between heads of state from countries that participate […]

One Georgian soldier dies in Afghanistan

By | September 23rd, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

The grave of Mikheil Narindoshvili, one of Georgia’s two dozen Afghan war casualties. He died in the June, 2013 attack. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A Georgian soldier has died in Afghanistan while taking part in the NATO-led Resolute Support mission. Private Vasil Kuljanishvili was from the 43rd battalion of the IV Mechanized Brigade. Sergeant Paata Rostobaia from the same […]

Georgian soldier breaks own world record for planche push-ups

By | June 9th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

(Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A 23 year old Georgian double amputee has broken his own world record for planche push-ups. Corporal Temur Dadiani lost both legs in 2011 while serving in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Sunday, he managed to do 44 push-ups in one minute; 8 more […]

Georgian battalion leaves for Afghanistan

By | March 10th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: |

(Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A farewell ceremony was held at Vaziani military base Monday for one hundred Georgian soldiers who are departing for Afghanistan. The soldiers, who come from the 31th infantry battalion, are to take part in the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission, […]

Three Georgian soldiers injured in suicide attack in Afghanistan

By | November 15th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

(Photo: Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three Georgian soldiers were injured at a military base in Bagram, Afghanistan, as a suicide bomber blew himself up while the Georgians were patrolling the area. The Ministry of Defense said the health of soldiers is in no danger. They were taken […]

Georgian soldiers leaving base in Helmand

By | July 17th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Georgian ISAF soldiers Afghanistan. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian soldiers are leaving the U.S. military base Leatherneck in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, as it is being closed down. According to the Ministry of Defense, the closure of the base is related to the transfer of security responsibility […]

Georgia to cut troop numbers in Afghanistan to 700

By | June 9th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Georgian soldiers preparing to leave for Afghanistan in March, 2013. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is reducing its number of troops in Afghanistan from January 1, 2015, to 700, Mindia Janelidze, Chairman of the Council for State Security and Crisis Management (CSSCM), announced Sunday. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania, who participated […]

Georgian president visited soldiers in Afghanistan

By | March 18th, 2014|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan. (Photo by Defense Ministry.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has paid a visit to Afghanistan and met with Georgian soldiers participating in the ISAF mission. Supporters of former President Saakashvili have criticized Margvelashvili for not being active, even though […]

Afghanistan and Georgia consider economic cooperation

By | March 18th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osman with Maia Panjikidze, Georgia’s Foreign Minister. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Afghanistan is interested in Georgia’s location and prospects for cooperation in the fields of economy and transport, but nothing specific has yet been said about concrete project. Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osman on Monday talked […]

Margvelashvili won among Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan

By | October 28th, 2013|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

Giorgi Margvelashvili from Georgian Dream won a majority of votes also among Georgian ISAF-soldiers in Afghanistan. (CEC.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Dream candidate Giorgi Margvelashvili received most votes among Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan. Margvelashvili won over Davit Bakradze, from the National Movement, at two election precincts for Georgian soldiers serving in the NATO-led […]

Georgia has relocated Afghanistan soldiers

By | July 11th, 2013|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , , |

Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Irakli Alasania says Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan have relocated to a safer place after the last attack on one of their bases, which caused the death of seven soldiers. However, the investigation into the Taliban threat video, […]

NATO envoy concerned about lack of trust in Georgian politics

By | June 28th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , |

James Appathurai. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO envoy James Appathurai says he is ‘a bit concerned by the level of mistrust’ between Georgia’s government and opposition. Appathurai, whose full title is NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, […]

24 000 families to be compensated for war losses

By | June 27th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

Families who have lost a member in the military will get compensation. Photo shows the body of Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze being brought home from Afghanistan earlier this year. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–About 24 000 families who lost a member while doing military service will get increased compensation according to a new initiative, which will be presented to parliament on Friday. The proposed bill will amend the law on the status of a military servant […]

Appathurai: Georgian troops in Afghanistan are not targeted

By | June 27th, 2013|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

NATO envoy James Appathurai. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO envoy James Appathurai says the alliance does not have any evidence that Georgian troops in Afghanistan ‘are specifically targeted.’ Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, said […]

Georgia to close two bases in Afghanistan

By | June 12th, 2013|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

Georgian ISAF soldiers in Afghanistan. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two of Georgia’s military bases in Afghanistan will be closed, according to the defense minister. In a TV interview on Tuesday Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said that his government, acting on recommendations from its armed forces […]

Thousands attend funeral of dead Georgian soldiers

By | June 10th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

  Funeral of the seven dead soldiers was held at Sameba on Sunday (DF Watch photo) TBILISI, DFWatch–Sunday, thousands of people attended the funeral of the seven soldiers who died in Afghanistan. Patriarch Ilia II conducted the funeral which took place at Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi. The prime minister and almost the entire government were present during the service […]

Demonstration in Tbilisi to demand withdrawal from Afghanistan

By | June 9th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

The demonstrators demanded that Georgia withdraws its troops from Afghanistan. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Students rallied in front of the old parliament building in Tbilisi Friday to demand the withdrawal of Georgian troops from Afghanistan. The protest came after seven Georgian soldiers died in a suicide attack in Helmand province on Thursday. […]

NATO to investigate threat video against Georgia

By | June 9th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

Georgia is the largest non-NATO contributor to ISAF. (MoD.) TBILISI, DFWatch–NATO is to investigate whether there was a connection between a suicide attack on a Georgian base in Afghanistan and a video posted the same day which threatened to attack inside Georgia in retaliation for the country’s participation in ISAF. James […]

Georgia commemmorated fallen soldiers

By | June 8th, 2013|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

Defense Minister Irakli Alasania visiting one of the wounded soldiers. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Friday, Georgia commemorated the seven soldiers who died in a suicide attack in Afghanistan the day before. The soldiers were serving in the 42nd infantry brigade at Base Lezernik in Helmand Province. “We took the bodies of our seven heroes […]

Georgians demand to know who posted video threat

By | June 7th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–A video posted on Youtube which contains threats against Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan has caused debate in Tbilisi. The video has spread fear, especially among family members and relatives of the soldiers, but it now appears that the video was […]

Seven Georgian soldiers die in Afghanistan suicide bombing

By | June 7th, 2013|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

Irakli Dzneladze (center), Head of Georgia’s Joint Staff. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Seven Georgian soldiers died in a suicide attack in Afghanistan Thursday. President Mikheil Saakashvili has called for a national day of mourning on June 7 and asked that all the flags be lowered. The Ministry of Defense on Thursday informed that […]

Georgian soldiers to remain in Afghanistan after 2014

By | June 6th, 2013|Categories: News, Security|Tags: , |

Georgia’s Minister of Defense Irakli Alasania (left) and NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The NATO-Georgia commission held a session in Brussels on Wednesday as part of a meeting of ministers from member states. The Alliance’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen opened the session by reiterating the importance of Georgia’s […]

Three dead ISAF soldiers brought back to Georgia

By | May 16th, 2013|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

The three ISAF soldiers killed in a May 13 attack were Thursday brought back to Georgia. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The three Georgian soldiers who May 13 died in Afghanistan were today brought back to Georgia. The bodies of Corporal Alexandre Kvitsinidze, Corporal Vladmier Shanava and Sergeant Zviad Davitadze, arrived at Tbilisi airport on Thursday morning. […]

Georgia declares a day of mourning after Afghanistan losses

By | May 16th, 2013|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

The three who died will be buried on May 16. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Mikheil Saakashvili, the President of Georgia, has declared May 16 a day of mourning as a tribute to those Georgian soldiers who have lost lives while serving in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. The presidential order says that May 16 will be announced […]

27 Georgians were wounded in attack, some back on duty

By | May 15th, 2013|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

The three soldiers who died in Afghanistan will soon be brought home to Georgia. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Ten of the 27 wounded Georgian soldiers in an insurgent attack have returned to duty in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, while the remaining 17 are still undergoing medical treatment. Part of the wounded may be taken to Germany or brought to […]

Injured ISAF soldiers brought to hospital

By | May 14th, 2013|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

Master Sergeant Zviad Davitadze (left), Corporal Aleksandre Kvitsinadze and Corporal Vladimer Shanava lost their lives in the attack. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian soldiers who were wounded in yesterday’s attack in Afghanistan are in a satisfactory health condition and have been moved to the main hospital at Base Bastion, according to the Ministry of Defense. Three Georgian soldiers in the 42nd battalion […]

Three Georgian soldiers die in Afghanistan

By | May 13th, 2013|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Still from a Ministry of Defense video announcement.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three Georgian soldiers died on Monday in Afghanistan in a large attack by insurgents. There are wounded soldiers as well, Defense Minsiter informs. Georgia’s Defense Minsiter Irakli Aalasania said Monday that the insurgent attack took place […]

Two Georgian battalions depart for Afghanistan

By | March 22nd, 2013|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

A farewell ceremony was held at Vaziani military base outside of Tbilisi. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The 33rd and 42nd battalions of Georgia’s III and IV infantry brigades are today getting ready to depart for Afghanistan to participate in NATO’s ISAF mission. According to the Defense Ministry, both battalions have been through a six-month […]

Panetta briefed Alasania about Afghanistan plans

By | February 13th, 2013|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–The US Secretary of Defense Tuesday called Georgia’s Defense Minister and introduced him to the US action plan for Afghanistan. The main topic of conversation between Leon Panetta and Irakli Alasania was what kind of new functions the Georgian […]

Ivanishvili addressed Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan

By | February 7th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili spoke with Georgian soldiers serving in Afghanistan and thanked them for their service. According to the press office of the Defense Ministry, Ivainishvili Wednesday visited the ministry and held a video […]

Three Georgian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan

By | January 25th, 2013|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

Three Georgian soldiers were wounded in Afghanistan Thursday. (Photo: Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Three Georgian soldiers have been wounded in Afghanistan when insurgents opened fire as they were out on patrol. Corporal Erekle Kharshiladze and Junior Sergeant Iaho Kakulia received minor injuries. According to the Georgian Defense Ministry, […]

Georgia ends battle operations in Afghanistan after 2014

By | January 8th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian troops serving in Afghanistan will not carry out battle functions after 2014, when the ISAF mission will end, but they will help Afghan security structures and army in military training. Irakli Alasania, Georgia’s Defense Minister, […]

Georgian ISAF soldier buried today

By | January 5th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze, the nineteenth Georgian soldier to lose his life in Afghanistan, was buried today in Rustavi. This was the second public funeral organized for a Georgian soldier dying while taking part in ISAF operations. His body was […]

U.S. military sends condolences to Georgia over dead soldier

By | January 5th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and James G. Stavridis, Commander of the U.S.’ European Command and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe have expressed their condolences over the death of Georgian Sergeant Giorgi […]

Body of Georgian soldier brought home from Afghanistan

By | January 3rd, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The nineteenth Georgian soldier to die as part of the ISAF mission in Afghanistan will be buried January 5. The Ministry of Defense will cover the total costs of the funeral. December 19, Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze was announced missing. He was last […]

Saakashvili marks New Year with troops in Afghanistan

By | January 3rd, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili celebrated New Year together with Georgian soldiers serving in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. The president’s press office yesterday informed that there was intense shooting while the president was in the […]

Georgian soldier missing in Afghanistan found dead

By | December 30th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A Georgian soldier who has been missing for ten days was found dead in Afghanistan December 29. Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze is the nineteenth Georgian soldier to lose his life while carrying out his duties as part of the NATO-led ISAF mission […]

Georgia sends rescue team to Afghanistan

By | December 25th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A military search team left for Afghanistan on Monday in order to search for a Georgian soldier who has been missing for almost a week. The team is headed by the deputy chief of the Joint Staff. ISAF isalready  conducting a search and rescue […]

Georgian soldier goes missing in Afghanistan

By | December 21st, 2012|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A Georgian soldier serving in Afghanistan has disappeared, according to the defense ministry. The soldier, who was serving as part of the ISAF mission, disappeared on December 19, and no one has seen him since. […]

Georgia raises salaries for its soldiers in Afghanistan

By | December 15th, 2012|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Defense Ministry plans to improve conditions for Georgian soldiers serving in NATO’s ISAF mission to Afghanistan. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania on Friday stated that the salary will be increased for Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan […]

Georgia ready to extend Afghanistan mission

By | November 21st, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia will continue its participation in the NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan also after 2014. Foreign Affairs Minister Maia Panjikidze said this while briefing David Lidington, the UK’s Minister of State for Europe, about the Georgian […]

New government will reconsider Afghanistan mission

By | October 23rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia may reconsider the size of its contingent in Afghanistan after 2014. Candidate for new foreign minister Maia Panjikidze does not exclude that the new government will make changes to Georgia’s participation in the NATO-led ISAF operation […]

Georgian soldier dies in Afghanistan

By | October 12th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Corporal Mindia Abashidze was the eighteenth Georgian soldier to die while serving in the NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan. Georgia’s defense ministry on Thursday reported that the corporal born October 27, 1989, […]

Georgia’s defense minister visits Afghanistan

By | September 4th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Defense Minister and Chief of Staff met with ISAF Commander of Regional Command Southwest Major General and Commander of Task Force RC (SW) Major General to receive information about the mission. According to Georgia’s Defense Ministry […]

Georgia loses 17th soldier in Afghanistan

By | July 29th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch –Georgia has lost its 17th soldier in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. The Georgian Defense Ministry informs that Givi Pantsulaia, born in 1984, died Saturday at Gori Military Hospital. “Corporal Givi Pantsuala received injuries […]

Sixteenth Georgian soldier dies in Afghanistan

By | April 25th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Defense Ministry informs that another soldier has died in Afghanistan, bringing the total number of servicemen lost there to sixteen. Valerian Khujadze was serving in the 31st Battalion in the volatile Helmand province. The incident happened on […]

U.S. brings mine-resistant vehicles to Georgia for training

By | April 11th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The U.S. Department of Defense has brought 28 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles (MRAP) to Georgia to train Georgian troops. The U.S. embassy in Tbilisi released a statement saying that the vehicles will be transfered from the […]

Opposition accuses gov’t of lying about Afghanistan casualties

By | February 28th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – An opposition politician in the former Soviet republic of Georgia accuses the government of lying about when three servicemen died last week. Salome Zourabichvili, Georgia’s former Foreign Minister, accuses the government of having postponed the sad […]

Georgian opposition movement not to reconsider NATO missions

By | February 28th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s billionaire-backed opposition movement, Georgian Dream, is not going to reconsider the country’s participation in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan. Press spokesperson Maya Pandzhikidze said this at a regular briefing on February 27. […]

Three Georgian soldiers die in Afghanistan

By | February 22nd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Three Georgian soldiers have died in Afghanistan, according to Georgia’s Defense Minister. The country has now lost a total of fifteen soldiers in the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission. “The military servicemen died while they were […]

Georgia’s Saakashvili to unveil new combat vehicle

By | February 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili promised to this week unveil a new combat vehicle his country has developed called ‘Lazika’. The president said this in a speech February 20 during a surprise visit to his country’s soldiers stationed in […]

Saakashvili claims the U.S. is to strengthen Georgia’s military

By | February 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili said during a visit to Afghanistan that the United States will help Georgia to defend its territory. The president was addressing Georgian soldiers in the ISAF mission at a military base in Helmand province. […]

Saakashvili in Helmand: continuation of great tradition

By | February 20th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili today visited his country’s soldiers at the combat outpost Shukvani in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. No information was released beforehand about the president’s visit to Afghanistan, and it only became […]

Fox reaffirms UK’s military ties with Georgia

By | January 11th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch - British conservative politician Liam Fox calls the administrative border around the Tskhinvali region ‘the occupation line between Free Georgia and Occupied Georgia.’ The MP for North Somerset and former Secretary of State for Defense was visiting the border border area when he made the comment January 9. During his stay in Georgia, [...]

Georgian soldier dies in Afghanistan

By | January 7th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - A Georgian corporal has died in Afghanistan while serving in the ISAF mission. This is the twelfth Georgian soldier who dies in the war. According to the Georgian Ministry of Defense, Shalva Palodze died of wounds received during a Taliban attack. Georgia is one of the biggest contributors to the NATO-led [...]

Eleventh Georgian soldier dies in Afghanistan

By | January 3rd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Corporal Besik Niniashvili was serving in Helmand province with the Third Infantry Brigade’s 31th light infantry battalion within the frameworks of the ISAF mission. According to a statement from the Interior Ministry Niniashvili was killed when a mine exploded. He had the medal of Military Merit, an honorary diploma, a medal for combat [...]

Fighting in Afghanistan for Georgia’s Security

By | December 29th, 2011|Categories: News, Opinion, Security|Tags: , |

Georgia has increased its military presence in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan making it the biggest non-NATO contributor to ISAF operations. The Georgian parliament supported this decision and the Christian Democratic Movement of Georgia voted in favor. This was a well thought-out decision designed for making Georgia a part of a global security network. [...]

Georgia sends extra battalion to Afghanistan

By | December 16th, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili Friday asked the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for permission to send one more infantry battalion. The decision requires the approval of parliament. Early indications are he is likely to get it at a special session next week. One battalion normally means 600-650 soldiers, but the government has yet [...]

Troop replacement in Afghanistan

By | October 15th, 2011|Categories: News, Security|Tags: |

Georgia's light infantry Battalion #31 has just left for Afghanistan. It consists of 749 soldiers and will replace Battalion #33. The troop Georgian replacement takes place within the framework of the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) operation in the country. The Georgian peacekeeping battalion will carry out its mission alongside American troops in Helmand province. They [...]