Georgian soldier dies in Afghanistan

The tragedy took place on the territory of the Bagram airfield. Georgian servicemen were patrolling the base with their counterparts from other countries when an attack took place.

As a result, one participant of operation ‘Resolute Support’, 26-year-old junior sergeant Mdinari Bebiashvili lost his life, reports the Ministry of Defense of Georgia.

Mdinari Bebiashvili is the 32nd Georgian soldier to lose his life in Afghanistan while serving on a peacekeeping mission.

Bebiashvili began serving in the armed forces of Georgia in 2010. He had been to Afghanistan twice on missions in 2012 and 2014 in the ranks of international security forces. He had been awarded medals for his ‘participation in peacekeeping operations’.

During the attack on Bagram airfield, three Georgian soldiers were also wounded. One of them, Captain Mikheil Gvirdzhishvili, is in a serious but stable condition. Two others, senior lieutenant Giga Khakhutashvili and Corporal Gega Kharshilava, are in a satisfactory condition. All three are being treated at the hospital on the airfield.

•   Georgian divisions have been participating in the NATO mission ‘Resolute Support’ since 2015, with 13 459 service members from 14 countries serving in the mission. Of these, 870 are from Georgia. This is the highest number of soldiers from a non-NATO country. From NATO countries, the USA has the most troops on the ground.

•  The NATO ‘Resolute Support’ mission replaced the International Security Assistance Force mission on 1 January 2015. The mission is not combat-oriented. Its main goal is to train and help the armed forces of Afghanistan. The servicemen are also charged with fighting terrorism and patrolling the provinces to maintain security and peace for the local population.