Ruling Georgian Dream party officials marked the 18th anniversary of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war on August 8, reiterating their longstanding accusations that the former United National Movement government started the war, while the Foreign Ministry, in a statement published the same day, called on Russia to end its illegal occupation of Georgia’s territories and reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, GD-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili, disputed Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze were among the officials who visited Mukhatgverdi’s Brothers’ Cemetery in Tbilisi early on August 8 to pay tribute to those who died in the war. Opposition representatives visited the site a day earlier, on August 7.
The differing dates reflect a longstanding dispute over when the war should be commemorated. While many in Georgia and in the West mark the anniversary on August 7, when Russian troops had already entered Georgian territory, Georgian Dream has traditionally observed it on August 8, accusing the then-Georgian government of triggering the conflict through a military operation in Tskhinvali.
Remarks by Georgian Dream Officials
“Eighteen years have passed since the August War, but we all still remember those extremely difficult days, including on an emotional level, and it is our duty to honor the memory of the heroes who died in the August War… We have a duty to these heroes to do everything we can to restore Georgia’s territorial integrity through peaceful means and fulfill their dream,” Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said while speaking to journalists at the Mukhatgverdi Brothers’ Cemetery in Tbilisi.
Asked who started the war, Kobakhidze said: “We blame [Mikheil] Saakashvili’s bloody regime for starting the war.” He added: “At that time, the country formally had a traitorous commander-in-chief, and our heroes sacrificed their lives precisely because our so-called commander-in-chief was a traitor, an agent, who acted at the behest of foreign powers.”
“As for Russia,” he continued, after journalists pointed out that he was avoiding mentioning the Russian occupation, “Russia occupied 20% of Georgia’s territories, and the betrayal of Saakashvili, his regime, and the UNM cannot in any way overshadow this crime…On the one hand, there was the betrayal of Saakashvili and his regime. On the other hand, there was the occupation carried out by the Russian Federation. What is most important for us is to assess both facts properly.”
Pressed to clarify whether blaming the former government for starting the war amounts to blaming Georgia, he distinguished the then-UNM government, calling it a “regime,” from Georgia itself as a country.
“Russian troops entered [Georgia] on August 8…What happened on August 7 was that the Saakashvili regime bombed Tskhinvali,” Kobakhidze said.
Georgian Dream-elected President Mikheil Saakashvili likewise blamed the former UNM government for the war.
“Our country has lost territories, the enemy has occupied our territories, and we have lost villages and people. Unfortunately, this occupation continues to this day,” Kavelashvili said, without mentioning Russia. “But I would like to tell the public that today, more than ever, Georgia is independent and sovereign. It has a free government that serves the national interest and will do everything to restore our territorial integrity and reunify Georgia,” he claimed.
Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said the war would not have happened had Georgian Dream been in power in 2008.
“This war would not have happened if [Mikheil] Saakashvili’s puppet regime had not been in power in Georgia at the time, and if a patriotic force like Georgian Dream had been in power instead. There would have been no war, no destruction, and no casualties. And if the 2008 war had not happened, most likely there would have been no war in Ukraine either,” he said.
Papuashvili further claimed that Georgia in 2008 became “a sacrificed pawn on the chessboard of geopolitical confrontation,” with the country assigned that role through what he called a “puppet regime.” He added that “the same situation” occurred in 2022, when, he claimed, there were attempts to drag Georgia into the war in Ukraine.
MFA Statement
“Eighteen years have passed since the full-scale military aggression launched by the Russian Federation against Georgia. In August 2008, disregarding the fundamental norms and principles of international law, Russia carried out the illegal occupation of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region –inalienable parts of Georgia’s territory — and recognised their so-called independence,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia said in its August 8 statement.
It added that Russia continues to defy the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement, expand its illegal control within the occupied territories, pursue their militarization, and take steps towards their de facto annexation. It also said that Russia is “severely worsening” the security and humanitarian situation on the occupied territories, while the lack of access for international organizations complicates a “comprehensive assessment” of the situation and human rights protection on the ground.
“Through such actions, Russia flagrantly violates fundamental norms of international law, which is evidenced by numerous judgements adopted by international courts in recent years.”
The ministry said Georgia remains “firmly committed” to the peaceful resolution of the conflict, including de-occupation, strengthening peace, and restoring trust and relations between societies divided by the conflict. To achieve these goals, the ministry said it uses diplomatic and legal mechanisms and “actively cooperates with international partners.”
The statement stressed the importance of the Geneva International Discussions as the “primary international negotiation format” for addressing security, humanitarian, and human rights issues, and emphasized that the “unconditional restoration and regular functioning” of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Gali is also of “high importance” for Georgia.
The ministry then called on Russia to “cease” the illegal occupation of Georgia’s territories and actions aimed at their de facto annexation, “fully implement” the EU-brokered August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement, “withdraw” its military forces from Georgian territory, and “ensure” the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes.
“Eighteen years on, Georgia’s goal of peace and unity remains unchanged,” the MFA said, adding that “Georgia will continue its policy and efforts based on the principles of international law to ensure the peaceful restoration of the country’s territorial integrity, security and stable development.” It concluded by paying tribute to the memory of military servicemen and civilians who lost their lives in the war.
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