The President of Georgia awarded the Vakhtang Gorgasali Order, 2nd and 3rd degree, to soldiers who demonstrated exceptional courage in defending the country's territorial integrity and fighting for Georgia's independence, freedom, and sovereignty. These awards honor their loyal fulfillment of military duty to the homeland.

Recipients of the Vakhtang Gorgasali Order, 2nd degree, include:

• Levan Ketsbaia - Chief Combat Training Officer of the 23rd Brigade, formerly part of the 2nd Army Corps of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia (awarded in life);
• Besarion Mamukelashvili - Major, Head of the Special Purpose Unit "Jupiter" under the Council of Ministers and Defense Council of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia (posthumously);
• Spartak Markhulia - Colonel, First Deputy Commander of the 23rd Brigade of the former 2nd Army Corps of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia (posthumously).

Recipients of the Vakhtang Gorgasali Order, 3rd degree (all posthumously), include:

• Badri Baghaturia - Lieutenant, an officer in the Information and Intelligence Service of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia;
• Koba Mirzashvili - Junior Lieutenant, an officer in the Information and Intelligence Service of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia;
• Malkhaz Gachechiladze - Colonel, Special Tasks Officer of the 1st Division (Operational) of the Military Intelligence Department of the Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces.

The award ceremony was held today at the State Service for Veterans Affairs, attended by Davit Tevzadze, the Chief Advisor to the President of Georgia for Strategic Planning, and Angi Khutsishvili, the Advisor to the President for Pardons, Citizenship, Awards, and Legal Issues.