The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli congratulates every citizen of Georgia, living abroad and living in the occupied territories on the Independence Day of Georgia.

"Compatriots, congratulations on our main national holiday - Independence Day! Congratulations to everyone, to every citizen of our multinational homeland, to our fellow citizens living in the occupied territories and abroad.

I also warmly congratulate the people working in the fields of education, science, culture, and sports, who work tirelessly to make their own contribution in overcoming this global challenge.

The proclamation of Georgia's state independence on May 26, 1918 is a victory for the ideal of freedom that has always determined our history. And although the First Republic was short-lived, the Georgian struggle for the country's independence did not slow down, culminating in the eventual restoration of statehood in 1991.

Today we bow before the bright memory of those who sacrificed their lives to achieve this great goal.

Today we also express our gratitude to our foreign friends and partners, whose continued support during the years of independence has been invaluable to us.

It is freedom that gives us the strength to continue the historic path, to deepen democratic development, to build a knowledge-based, European state, and to place our past in the community of free nations of Europe” - stated Mikheil Chkhenkeli.