On May 13, 1991, a shocking tragedy unfolded in Gori, Georgia. Children playing football on the grounds of the Gori military settlement were chased by Soviet soldiers, who suddenly opened fire with automatic weapons. In the attack, 14-year-old student Zaza Kakashvili was brutally killed.

His funeral quickly transformed into a massive protest and mourning procession, uniting thousands of Georgians in grief and outrage. President Zviad Gamsakhurdia officially appealed to USSR Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov and the Commander of the Transcaucasian Military District Vladimir Patrikeev, demanding accountability and punishment for those responsible.

Reports from the youth newspaper Akhalgazrda Iverieli described the killing as a national tragedy:

“The whole of Georgia attended the funeral of Zaza Kakashvili, a student from Gori pierced by the bullets of Marshal Yazov’s loyal soldiers—one of the ‘heroes’ of the April 9 tragedy. The savage murder of the young footballer shook Georgians and non-Georgians alike.”

Journalists openly referred to the Soviet soldiers as “defenders of the evil empire.”

Near Gori School #9, tens of thousands of mourners gathered, including Kakashvili’s classmates. They held banners in both Georgian and Russian, demanding justice:

• “Murderers, you will be held accountable!”
• “Stop, don’t shoot at children!”
• “Shame on the murderers!”

The news agency Sakinform reported: “With these words, young people expressed their protest to the executioners and fearlessly declared that they would never serve alongside murderers in the Soviet army.”