Three Georgian Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

Three Georgian soldiers were killed when their vehicle exploded in Afghanistan, Interpressnews reported Feb. 22, citing the Georgian Defense Ministry (MOD).

The attack comes just two days after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili flew to Afghanistan on a surprise visit to visit his country's troops serving there. Georgia currently has about 1,700 soldiers serving in the NATO ISAF mission in the Afghan province of Helmand.

The soldiers killed were all corporals of the 31^st Battalion and 3^rd Infantry Brigade, Valiko Beraya, Ruslan Meladze and Paata Kacharava were on a patrol when the incident took place.     

“The soldiers, who were carrying out their duties, were killed in an attack organized by the Taliban,” the MOD statement said.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the MOD officials expressed their condolences to the relatives of the deceased.

Georgian troops have been stationed in Afghanistan since 2009. Fifteen Georgian soldiers have been killed there.