The Embassy of Lithuania to Georgia has released a statement regarding April 9 tragedy in Georgia.

According to the statement, decades after these events, the important thing is to always remember to whom we owe the freedom that we have today.

“30 years have passed from 9 April tragedy in Georgia, when the country confronted Soviet repressive machine and stood firmly for its freedom, signaling the beginning of the demise of Soviet Union - unfortunately, this endeavor took the lives of 21 brave souls on that day.

Yet, the sacrifice was not in vain - 2 years after the tragedy, Georgia declared its re-established independence.

Lithuanians are no strangers to such feeling of unity seasoned with painful memories, as on 13 January 1991, Lithuania also made a stand and also had to make sacrifices for its freedom,” the statement reads.