16 years later
11 August 2024
On 7 August, Georgia reflected on the sixteenth anniversary of Russia’s invasion in 2008, a conflict that left lasting scars on the nation. During the war, hundreds of civilians were killed, cities were bombed, and villages were burned within just five days, displacing thousands. Russia seized control of over 100 villages and expanded its illegal occupation of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, which continues to this day.
Instead of focusing on the consequences of Russia's aggression, prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze and other officials from the ruling Georgian Dream party have accused the former ruling party, the United National Movement (UNM), of provoking the 2008 conflict by shelling Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia. They base this claim on the "Tagliavini Report", an EU-backed investigation released in September 2009. The report concluded that Georgia, under then-president Mikheil Saakashvili, "fired the first shot" by attacking Tskhinvali on 7 August 2008 in a futile attempt to stop Russian military units from entering South Ossetia. This conclusion is still contentious in Georgia, where many believe it unfairly shifts blame away from Russia. Pro-Russian and usually Eurosceptic Georgian Dream ironically now cite the EU report to hold the former UNM government accountable for the war, and give a ‘free pass’ to Russia.
This marks a major change from the previous bipartisan stance that uniformly held Russia accountable for violating Georgia’s territorial integrity and initiating the war.
 | Mariam Kukhilava The ruling party accused the UNM of trying to change the war commemoration date from 8 August to 7 August in an attempt to "hide its crime and escape responsibility." The Georgian prime minister emphasised the need for a proper legal assessment of these events and insisted that the "crimes" of the UNM party should be investigated. When asked about specific legal actions, he stated that details would be made public at a later time. Despite Georgian Dream's efforts to shift blame from Russia's aggression to the former government, international leaders continue to condemn Russia's occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. EU high representative Josep Borrell highlighted ongoing human rights violations and "borderization" policies, where Russian-backed forces in the occupied regions enforce de facto borders with physical barriers and guard posts, undermining Georgia's sovereignty and disrupting local communities. Borrell reaffirmed the EU's commitment to a peaceful resolution and its steadfast support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Georgian Dream's new stance on the war, particularly as the country pursues EU membership, has sparked criticism from opposition members, civic activists, NGOs, and citizens. Many have condemned the party's statements, with the younger generation taking to social media to encourage voting against the government in the upcoming October elections. They argue that this shift damages Georgia's reputation and complicates its international position. Just to recollect, the Georgian Dream party has been facing growing criticism for its controversial, pro-Russian stance, especially after passing the ‘foreign agent law’, which designates any organisation receiving more than 20% of its funding from abroad as a foreign agent and illegal. |
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