McCain awarded ‘Hero of Georgia’ order on visit, calls for Russia to respect its integrity

McCain awarded ‘Hero of Georgia’ order

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has decorated visiting U.S. Senator John McCain with a “National Hero of Georgia” order, recognizing his support in the August 2008 war with Russia.

The Western-friendly president made the award Monday at a ceremony on the Black Sea coast city of Batumi.

McCain as the fighting was raging announced that “today, we are all Georgians.”

Two Moscow-friendly territories in Georgia declared independence after the five-day war. The West has not followed Russia’s lead in recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The 73-year-old Republican reiterated U.S. demands that Moscow respect Georgia’s territorial integrity.