Oleksandr (Aleko) Hriholashvili (Chuzhyi)

Biography compiled by Aleko's wife Kristina: "Aleko Grigolashvili was born on February 16, 1982, in Kutaisi. At the age of 6, after his mother Nino passed away, Aleko was adopted by his grandfather (his mother's father), who raised and educated him. During the war in Abkhazia (1992-1993), Aleko ran away from home to the front to defend his people. He was sheltered in one of the units of the Georgian army, where he witnessed these tragic events for a long time. In 2002, Aleko graduated with honors from the Faculty of Law of Akaki Tsereteli State University and interned at the General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia for a year. Later, he spent 3 years in private business, heading his own internet café "ge.com". Aleko had been involved in sports since childhood, was the champion of Tbilisi in mixed martial arts, and later became a coach. In 2006, he was drafted for compulsory military service in the Armed Forces of Georgia and later continued to serve under contract. After receiving the officer rank, he served as a communications officer and instructor for reconnaissance units. From June 22, 2007, to January 9, 2008, he participated in a peacekeeping operation in Iraq, where he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal of the U.S. Army and other honors. In August 2008, he participated in combat actions to defend his homeland from the Russian invasion, was wounded in the leg, but did not leave his unit. Due to the consequences of his injury, in 2009, he was forced to resign from the Armed Forces due to health reasons while holding the rank of captain. He worked as an IT manager at the state company "United Water Supply Company" in Kutaisi and Gori. Since 2011, he served in the financial police unit. As a senior lieutenant of police, on October 15, 2014, he decided to resign voluntarily to go to Ukraine and help its people in the fight against Russian aggressors. He believed it was his war because Ukrainians had helped Georgians in Abkhazia. In those days, he wrote on social media: "I do not judge anyone, but honestly, I would rather blow myself up than surrender. Better to take 5 or 10 with me than to be captured… Dying in battle for Freedom and Truth is not scary. I and many officers always feared dying in bed from old age. It is the will of the Lord — who, where, and when. The main thing is to live rightly…". On October 18, Aleko flew to Ukraine, where he became one of the first fighters of the "Georgian National Legion". He was the one who came up with the insignia for this formation — he sent me a sketch so I could order such patches, and a week before his death, he received a package from me. He died with this insignia on his shoulder, and now this symbol is worn by many Georgian volunteers. His call sign was Chuzhiy (after the name of a character from a famous sci-fi movie). After Aleko became a hero of several television stories, friends wrote to him, saying that he had become a star, to which he replied: "My star is Georgia, and I will do everything to make it shine forever." In the "Aidar" battalion, he was an instructor in the reconnaissance company and a sniper. He greatly respected Sergey with the call sign Dynamite, saying that it was good to be in reconnaissance with him: he hears every rustle. He became very close friends with a Ukrainian fighter named Arkadiy — he often said that after the war, he would definitely invite him to Georgia. But it happened that my happiness was killed near Ukrainian Shchastya — Aleko died along with Dynamite. And Arkadiy first came to Georgia in a group that brought my husband's body… The authorities did not allow Aleko to be buried in an honorary place designated for hero soldiers. But people in Georgia think otherwise and respect him greatly — in Tbilisi, there are many graffiti on the walls of buildings with Aleko's portrait and the inscription "Glory to the heroes!". We were good friends, not just husband and wife… Our daughter Nino is still waiting for him, crying every day that she does not hear his voice on the phone — Aleko always called her before bed… Now I sometimes ask myself what I would do if I had the opportunity to turn back time? And every time I answer: I would do the same, I would not stop Aleko from going to fight for Freedom. It is a very difficult choice, but it is the truth… Ukrainian volunteers gave me a gift for Nino — a silver amulet in the shape of a trident. Ksenia Begushchaya po volnam: "I will remember you, Aleko… Thank you for everything… I will never forget your kind grateful eyes, how you praised my kubdari-khachapuri and how we hugged… As it turned out, for the last time. In the photo — the inscription behind Aleko: "Happiness begins here". You closed us with yourself, and you died. Forgive us…". Mamuka Mamulashvili: "These words, written by Aleko on Facebook on November 27, 2014, inspired me for the entire following year after his death… "Mamuka Mamulashvili, may the Lord protect you and give you strength, you are an example for many generations, I am proud of you, I am proud of every minute spent with you, may the Lord watch over you!".