30 years have passed since the April 9 Tragedy when the Soviet Union's armed forces dispersed a peaceful demonstration in the center of Tbilisi in 1989.

Today, the country also marks the 28th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union.

Every April 9, the citizens of Georgia and government officials gather at the memorial in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi to pay tribute to the victims.

This year, Georgian leaders, officials and ordinary citizens brought flowers to the April 9 memorial and remembered the fallen heroes.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze laid a wreath at the memorial and underlined the contribution of the April 9 heroes to the independence of the country.

“This day united the whole nation in the fight for freedom…30 years ago, our nation united and this brought us independence. It is symbolic that two years after this tragedy, we announced independence,” the PM stated.

 Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze noted that while April 9 was a tragic day, it was also the beginning of independence for Georgia.

“This was a day of liberation of our country. We are proud of this day and we are grateful to those heroes who died defending their homeland,” he said.

21 people were killed on April 9, 1989 in a peaceful demonstration demanding the country’s independence from the Soviet regime. Sixteen died at the scene while five died later from injuries, among hundreds injured, poisoned and taken to hospitals.

On April 9, 1991, the legislative body of the country and the first President, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, adopted the Declaration of Independence and announced Georgia’s sovereignty from the Soviet Union.

By Thea Morrison