The solemn event in front of the administrative building of the Ministry in Tbilisi was attended by the President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili, the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, members of the Government, members of the Parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia and employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
After the ceremonial march performed by different units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri congratulated police officers on their professional day and addressed them with a speech.
“We have all celebrated the Independence Day of Georgia just recently. Today, few days after May 26, we are celebrating Police Day. Today is a symbolic emphasis that building of an independent Georgian state, the protection of our citizens’ security was and will be the foundation of devoted work performed by each of you.
Caring for the citizens of our own country, ensuring their safety – is the duty of a police officer, however, we have cases when our colleagues sacrifice their lives while performing their professional activities. Let us all pay tribute to the memory of Georgian policemen who died in the line of duty for the unity of Georgia.
The centuries-old history of our entire country has been a fight for peace and independence. In recent history, our police has always been standing at the frontline. “ – said Vakhtang Gomelauri.
After the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili addressed the police.
“My dear police officers, we the citizens of this country are proud of the Georgian Police. We rely on each person employed in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Once again, thank you for your service. It is very exciting that we have succeeded in police transformation. The Georgian Police Force is no longer politicized. Our police are protecting our country’s citizens equally, without distinction. And it is absolutely unacceptable when undeserved insults are hurled against the police, something that our opponents unfortunately repeat quite often. Of course, we cannot accept this. We cannot compromise in any way, and not a single fact of this kind can go unanswered. Police officers must be untouchable, and I am not talking about individual excesses duly countered by the Ministry. However, it is unacceptable, and I categorically condemn any attempt to insult your proudworthy work, your profession. Consequently, I repeat that any such act will be punished, and we will not allow any compromises.
My dear police officers, my friends, on behalf of our people and our Government, and that of my own, I thank you for your loyal, devoted service, for your professionalism and heroism. I am thankful to your parents, spouses, children, your family members, whose support is so dear to you in your work. Once again, Happy Police Day! God be your protector!”- the Prime Minister addressed police officers.
The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili also congratulated the police on their professional day.
“I would like to congratulate everyone personally on the day of your profession, the day of your professionalism. For 31 years, the Georgian police have been able to transform an old Soviet institution that no longer exists. Today we have a modern police force in a contemporary, democratic country – professional force that invokes trust in citizens.
Your professionalism has already been recognized by all of our partners. Your cooperation with Europol is one of the examples of that. Our police attaches perform a very important job in different countries to demonstrate the professionalism of our police. I would like to express my appreciation for that as well – stated the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili.
A minute of silence was observed at the event in memory of the police officers killed in the line of duty. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri awarded the successful policemen with various medals of the Ministry. After the awarding ceremony, the oath taking ceremony was held for the cadets of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
At the end of the official part of the event, singer Oto Nemsadze and the ensemble “Georgian Voices” performed a song specially written for “Police Day 2022” – “I serve Georgia!”
For further information: https://police.ge/en/31-maiss-politsielis-dghe-aghinishna/15284
