On this day in 1989, minutes before 4 am, Soviet troops moved to crush the peaceful protest of thousands of Georgians demanding independence from the USSR, resulting in at least 21 deaths and hundreds of injuries. On this day of National Unity, we remember those men and women, young and old, who sacrificed their lives for our freedom: Aza Adamia, 22Natia Bashaleishvili, 16,Eka Bezhanishvili, 15Nato Giorgadze, 23Tamuna Dolidze, 28Tina Enukidze, 70Nino Toidze, 25Zaira Kikvidze, 61Shalva Kvasroliashvili, 35Manana Loladze, 33Tamar Mamulishvili, 50Venera MetreveliMamuka Nozadze, 22Nana Samarguliani, 31Marina Chkonia-Samarguliani, 31Eliso Chipashvili, 25Tamar Chovelidze, 16Nodar Jangirashvili, 40Mzia Jincharadze, 43Manana Melkadze, 23Gia Karseladze, 25 Two years later, on April 9, 1991, Georgia restored its independence after 70 years of Soviet Union rule