Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker accuses domestic opposition of embracing Russian capital after 2008 war, adopting ‘Russophobia’ after 2022

Nino Tsilosani, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, said on Tuesday that the domestic opposition and “radical groups” had remained silent during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war and the subsequent occupation of Georgian territories, while at the same time supporting the Russian capital, further claiming that these groups only adopted a strongly anti-Russian stance following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In a social media message, Tsilosani referred to earlier remarks by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, saying that he had raised what she described as a legitimate question.

“Today, the Prime Minister raised a completely legitimate question: why were they not instructed to promote Russophobia when there was the strongest possible justification for doing so - following the August 2008 war - and why are they being instructed to do so now, when the victim of Russian aggression is not their own homeland, but another country, albeit a friendly one?”, she said.

The Vice Speaker added that the period following the August 2008 war was characterized by efforts to promote tourism and attract Russian investment, developments that were welcomed rather than opposed by many of those who are now among the Government’s most vocal critics.

“For years after the August 2008 war, we witnessed the promotion of tourism and the Russian capital, which today’s radicals welcomed rather than opposed. Then, from 2022 onward, they suddenly ‘woke up’ and, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, began presenting themselves as committed Russophobes”, she said.

Tsilosani argued that these developments reflected what she described as a broader pattern.

“All the facts point to one unfortunate reality - the tragedy of their own country means nothing to them. Their ‘patriotism’, ‘solidarity’ and emotions are activated only at the direction of their foreign patrons. Remaining silent about the suffering of their own people while raising their voices based on external instructions is neither patriotism nor genuine solidarity - it is simply unconditional service to the interests of others”, she concluded.