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In Georgia, hundreds of volunteers have joined the international legion in Ukraine since the start of the war. They have, for some, never fought, but all have in mind the Russian invasions in their own country. A new convoy of fighters left on Friday.
With our correspondent in Tbilisi, Manon Champelain
Military fatigues and a shaved head, Gia enters Tbilisi airport with a determined gaze. He joins a group of men seated in a circle around a leaf. All must sign to commit before flying to Poland, direction the front in Ukraine.
« When the war started, I mightn’t sleep for three days in a row because I have friends in kyiv, I talked to them, I followed everything that was going on and above all, I know what Russians are capable “, he says.
“Many are inexperienced but want to get involved”
With 20% of their territory occupied since 2008, the Georgians fear they may be next in line. Gia was very marked by previous Russian invasions in Georgia. His father was killed by a sniper when he was six years old.
It is now his turn to go fight, but he has decided to protect his two daughters. ” I told them I was going on a road trip to Georgia for a few weeks. Because I don’t want to stress them. This morning, I dropped them off at school, then I told them that I would always be with them. I will try to keep this promise “says the man.
If Gia can leave, it’s thanks to the Ukrainian embassy. She finances the trip and provides weapons. ” I keep getting messages. Many are inexperienced but want to commit, because if Russia wins in Ukraine, Georgia is next on the list “, according to Lana Ghvinjiilia, who is in charge of all the coordination.
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they are more than 20,000 around the world to have signed with the International Legion in Ukraine.
