Reuters reported on the recent statement made by ruling Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili, suggesting that after holding the National Movement accountable for “igniting” the August war, “Georgians must apologize” for the fact that this party “set our Ossetian brothers and sisters on fire in 2008.”
“Georgia’s most powerful man, Bidzina Ivanishvili, suggested that the South Caucasus country could apologize to Ossetians for the 2008 war with Russia that led to Moscow recognizing two rebel Georgian regions, Georgian media reported.
Russia recognized South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, as independent states after Russian troops repelled a Georgian attempt to retake South Ossetia in a five-day war in 2008. Most of the rest of the world continues to recognize the territories as Georgian.
Ivanishvili, a billionaire ex-prime minister who is the lead candidate of the ruling Georgian Dream party in an Oct. 26 election, said the “criminal regime” of former President Mikheil Saakashvili triggered the war on the orders of foreign powers, according to Georgian public broadcaster 1TV,” reads the article.
“Immediately after the October 26 elections, those who instigated the war will face justice”, Ivanishvili said, adding that Georgians would then “apologize” for the war. He was speaking at a campaign event in the town of Gori, which was briefly occupied by Russia during the 2008 war.
“Saakashvili is serving a six-year prison sentence for abuse of power and could not be reached for immediate comment.
“His United National Movement (UNM) party said that Ivanishvili’s remarks were a national shame that served the interests of Russia and said the statement was treacherous, according to Interpress News,” reports REUTERS.
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