Georgian PM: despite 2008 War, United National Movement did not pursue tougher Russia policy, regime leader welcomed Russian visitors

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Tuesday that, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, a distinct approach had emerged among the country’s “opposition pseudo-liberal minority”, which, he argued, warrants separate discussion.

In a social media message, Kobakhidze noted that despite the scale of the August 2008 war, the United National Movement and its supporters did not adopt a radical stance toward Russia between 2008 and 2012.

On the contrary, he claimed that shortly after the war, the then leader of the ruling party personally welcomed Russian citizens at the Georgian border and encouraged them to visit and conduct business in the country, while the government also pursued efforts to strengthen cultural and humanitarian ties with Russia.

“As you know, as a result of the crimes committed by the United National Movement government against its own state and people, Russia occupied 20 percent of Georgia’s territory. Eighteen years have passed since the August 2008 war, yet its devastating consequences continue to affect our country and the lives of tens of thousands of Georgians. Russia’s military aggression claimed 412 lives, injured 2,232 people, forced 30,000 of our citizens to flee their homes, and left more than 120 Georgian settlements beyond the occupation line”, he said.

“We have a duty to our homeland and to history to remember that these figures are not merely statistics - they represent lost lives, abandoned and destroyed villages, and national interests that were sacrificed through betrayal”, Kobakhidze continued.
The Prime Minister said it was noteworthy that, despite the scale of the tragedy, the August war did not serve as sufficient grounds for the United National Movement or its supporters to adopt a radical stance toward Russia during the 2008-2012 period.

“In fact, the opposite occurred. After Russia occupied Georgian territories in 2008 and recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, the United National Movement not only failed to adopt a tougher policy toward Russia, but, shortly after the war, the leader of the ruling party personally welcomed Russian citizens at the border and invited them to visit Georgia and conduct business in the country. During the same period, the government actively sought to strengthen cultural and humanitarian ties with Russia, attract Russian investment into various sectors of Georgia’s economy, including strategic sectors, and, several years later, unilaterally abolish visa requirements for Russian citizens”, Kobakhidze concluded.