On August 8, Georgian Dream leaders again blamed the United National Movement for starting the war in political statements at the Mukhatgverdi Brothers’ Cemetery.
When asked whether this meant they were claiming that Georgia had started the war, they distinguished the government at the time from Georgia itself.
For the third consecutive year, the Georgian Dream government has openly blamed Georgia’s previous government, rather than Russia, for starting the war.
“Russian troops entered on August 8. What happened on August 7 was that Saakashvili’s regime bombed Tskhinvali and then signed a resolution,” Kobakhidze said. “We blame Saakashvili’s bloody regime for starting the war. The country formally had a treacherous commander-in-chief at the time, and our heroes were sacrificed because our so-called commander-in-chief was a traitor and an agent acting on the orders of foreign forces.” Kobakhidze said on August 8.
Some political parties and members of the public view the claim that the war began on August 8 as a Russian narrative, arguing that the war began on August 7, when the first Russian armed forces entered Georgian territory.
Foreign Secretary of the Lelo party Grigol Gegelia said Kobakhidze had once again provided “evidence against his own state and nation,” calling it “the anatomy of real sabotage.”
“Kobakhidze has once again testified against his own state and nation. This is precisely the anatomy of real sabotage. Of course, the response from the Tskhinvali occupation regime was not long in coming. It has now cited one of Kobakhidze’s statements against the Georgian state at least six times,” Gegelia said.
Vika Filfani, a member of the ‘For Georgia’ parliamentary faction, said an investigation should also be launched into Irakli Kobakhidze, arguing that he blamed the Georgian side for starting the 2008 war – a position she said was used by the occupation regime, while Kobakhidze is now seeking to hold the Georgian state fully responsible.
“This damages the national interests. Therefore, an investigation should be launched into Irakli Kobakhidze and all high-ranking officials who accuse Georgia and harm the country’s national interests,” Filfani said.
