Georgia celebrates Independence Day

Thousands of white and red balloons flew in the sky over central
Tbilisi and marked the end of the military parade and the beginning of
celebrations for Georgian Independence Day. In 1918 on May 26, Georgia
was proclaimed an independent state. Today's military parade is the
first after the war of August 2008.
The official part of the ceremony started with minute of silence in
honor of the Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who died in a plane
crash in west Russia on April 10.
The aspiration for independence is an essential part of the Georgian
mentality, Saakashvili said, Novosti Georgia reports.
The military parade in Tbilisi involved more than 4,000 soldiers, 120
pieces of military equipment, 12 helicopters and 6 planes, including
the SU-25.
A monument in honor of the soldiers who died "fighting Russia for
independence" was also unveiled. The 48-meter high monument was
designed by Spanish architect Alberto
Domingo Kabo and has the names of the 3,500 soldiers who died in
conflicts with Russia from 1918-2008 inscribed on it.
The opposition didn't take part in the celebrations.