David Razmadze, Chairman of the Gori Municipal Council, expressed gratitude for the arrival of Russian forces in Gori during the August 2008 war, claiming they acted as “peacekeepers” amid looting by supporters of then-President Mikheil Saakashvili.
In an interview with The New York Times, Razmadze accused Georgia’s third president of provoking the conflict with Russia and blamed him for a wide range of problems. “It was all Misha’s fault. He deliberately provoked the situation. This was just one of many problems he caused,” he said.
The American publication notes that during a 90-minute conversation, Razmadze held Saakashvili responsible for everything “from the decline in church attendance to the high costs of municipal water fountains.”
Referring to the presence of Russian troops in Gori in 2008, Razmadze added: “They came here as peacekeepers, and thank God they did, because Misha’s thugs were looting the entire city. They even stole a priest’s car. If the Russians hadn’t come, who knows how much more damage they would have caused.”
Razmadze has since denied he made such comments to the NYT journalist.
