three ISAF soldiers coffins

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.

A mourning ceremony was held at the airport welcomed by a guard of honor and a military orchestra which played a funeral march.

The ceremony was attended by the defense minister and his deputies, the heads of the Joint Staff, representatives of the US embassy, family members and relatives of the dead.

A civil funeral ceremony is scheduled for today at 19:00 at Kashueti church on Rustaveli Ave in the center of Tbilisi.

Yesterday, after a request from the Georgian government, President Saakashvili announced May 16 as a day of mourning to honor the memory of the Georgian soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan. All flags on public buildings have been lowered on Thursday.

All the three dead served in the 42nd light infantry battalion of the fourth infantry brigade.

According to the Defense Ministry, Junior Sergeant Zviad Davitadze, born in 1979, had served in the Georgian army since 2005 and had earned a medal for meritorious service. Corporal Alexandre Kbitsinadze, born in 1986, served in army since 2007. He owns a medal Kakutsa Cholokashvili, which is usually granted for military persons or civilians for merits in regards of restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity and defending.

Corporal Vladimer Shanava, born in 1989, served in army since 2007 and he owns a medal for participation in peaceful operation.

All the three are presented on the Order of the First Degree of Vakhtang Gorgasali.