Victory Day (9 May)

Victory Day is a holiday that commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945. It was first inaugurated in the 15 republics of the Soviet Union, following the signing of the German Instrument of Surrender late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (after midnight, thus on 9 May Moscow Time). The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin.

During the Soviet Union's existence, 9 May was celebrated throughout the USSR and in the countries of the Eastern Bloc.
The celebration of Victory Day continued during subsequent years. The war became a topic of great importance in cinema, literature, history lessons at school, the mass media, and the arts. The ritual of the celebration gradually obtained a distinctive character with a number of similar elements: ceremonial meetings, speeches, lectures, receptions and fireworks.
 On May 9 Georgians mark the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany and the end of the Second World War (WWII). Georgia has officially recognized 9 May since its independence in 1991. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.

Representatives of the Georgian government, veterans and citizens gather to put flowers on the monument of the "Unknown Soldier."

"I want to congratulate everyone on this day, especially our veterans. Hundreds of thousands of Georgian heroes have fallen on the battlefield and I want to pay tribute to their memory.74 years have passed since the victory over Fascism. War heroes saved humanity from the Fascism by sacrificing their lives. I would like to wish our veterans long life and prosperity, And I want to wish health, happiness and prosperity to the veterans and their family members," said Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze.