Santa Claus meets with children at Abkhazia occupation line
The fairytale character is visiting Georgian villages with a joint project between Finland and Georgia. Photo: Press office of State Representative of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
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A Santa Claus and other fairytale characters travelling through Georgia during the New Year season met with children at the Abkhazia occupation line earlier today and wished them peace and unity.
The fairytale character is visiting Georgian villages in the framework of a joint project between Finland and Georgia.
We are in a very special place. Today this bridge still divides occupied Abkhazia with a free Georgia”, the Santa Claus said, adding that he is a world ambassador of peace.
I know there will be no borders in the near future and I wish to come to this bridge next year and celebrate the non-existence of this 'border'. This would be the best wish to Georgians and the world”, he noted.
Wishing everyone a successful new year, the Santa Claus said now it is time to have a free Georgia and Georgians.
Photo: Press office of State Representative of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
The guest from Laplandia met with children in the village Rukhi close to the Abkhazia occupation line as well as internally displaced children who reside in Zugdidi and Poti in the region of Samegrelo.
Tomorrow he will travel to Mestia in the region of neighbouring mountainous Svaneti.
Photo: Press office of State Representative of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
The Santa Claus and other fairytale characters will be travelling to other Georgian regions as well and eventually leave the country on January 9.
The State Security Service officials have visited the families of fallen officers in Tbilisi and in the regions, wishing them a happy New Year.
Georgian Patriarch Ilia II has addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin in his New Year video and stated that the “occupation of the historic Georgian territories [by Russia] should end.”
Georgian top officials, the prime minister, the president and parliament speaker have sent kind wishes on a New Year holiday. “I wish you a Happy New Year 2020! I wish happiness and success to all of you and to our homeland. We welcome the New Year with hope and anticipation of beneficial change. May all our wishes-those of all our citizens, the younger and the elder alike-come true,” Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia said.
Eight children have been taken to M. Iashvili Children’s Central Hospital as a result of fireworks accidents on New Year’s eve.
Eighty-one people have been injured as a result of fireworks accidents on December 31-January 1 in Georgia, says the Ministry of Health.
“I wish a Happy New Year to all our fellow citizens both in Georgia and abroad, to our Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers. It is only in unity with them that we will secure a better future for Georgia… I wish you a year of a better tomorrow, of the country’s success, revival and development”, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said late last night while wishing Georgian citizens a happy new year.