"It is very difficult for me to talk today.

As you all already know, Zurab Zhvania died last night. Our colleague Raul Usupov died together with him.

This is a major blow to our country and to me personally as president and as a person, just as it probably is to each of you.

Georgia has lost a great patriot whose entire life was devoted to tireless and selfless service to our country. I have lost my closest friend, most trusted adviser and greatest ally.

My thoughts and Sandra's thoughts, as well as the thoughts of each of you, are with Zurab's wife Nino, his mother Rema and his three most beautiful children.

At this difficult time for the country and for us, for me, I would like to urge you all to be firm and persevering. At this difficult time for the Georgian authorities there can be no greater service or duty than being loyal servants to our country, Georgia, and our people.

That is what Zurab Zhvania devoted his entire life to and that is our most sacred duty. However

difficult, we must continue serving our country, Georgia, every minute, to the end.

I wish to offer my condolences to both families and to each of us. I hope you will stand firm, Georgia will stand firm, and I hope I will stand firm because it is firmness that we need the most at present.

We must stand firm and together continue with what we have set out to do.

We must all understand that we should really care about each other. We have just seen what life is. We must all now support each other."

"I would like to honor the memory of our teammates with a minute of silence...

Now the family needs support most of all. Please follow me."

Communications Office
of the President of Georgia