“Dear citizens! Today is a sad and tragic date for our people. 29 years ago, on December 14, 1992, a crime that is striking by its inhumanity occurred. A helicopter with refugees from the besieged Tkuarchal was shot down by Georgian fascists on its way to Gudauta.

This tragedy became the most terrible day in the Patriotic War of the people of Abkhazia of 1992-1993. A monstrous and cynical act of aggression directed against children, women, the elderly, took the lives of more than 80 people. There are crimes that do not have a statute of limitations. The Lata tragedy is just such a crime. We will do our best to ensure that such tragedies never happen again.

We bow our heads in memory of the innocent victims and share the pain of their grievous loss with their loved ones. No matter how much time has passed, the bright memory of those who died on December 14, 1992 will always live in our hearts.

President A. Bzhania."