Parliamentary inquiry: Vice Speaker alleges deliberate sabotage of peace initiatives under former UNM Gov't

Georgian Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission examining alleged crimes committed by the former United National Movement Government between 2003 and 2012 on Wednesday reviewed the situation in Georgia's Russian-occupied territories between 2004 and 2008 and the 2008 August war with Russia.

Tea Tsulukiani, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament and Chair of the Commission, addressed Grigol Vashadze, the Minister of Foreign Affairs under the former UNM Government, saying the United National Movement Government made very serious mistakes in strengthening the defence capabilities of the armed forces between 2004 and 2006, which she stressed were very important years in terms of defining and implementing the existing policy towards the Russian- occupied territories.

Tsulukiani emphasised that deliberate steps had been taken to suppress all initiatives aimed at restoring trust between peoples and those individuals who were known for their peace initiatives were dismissed from office or Prime Ministers died under suspicious circumstances.

She stressed that the impression was created as if there were two wings within the United National Movement party, the vast majority of which advocated the return of territories by force of arms, while the second, a small group, was in favor of achieving reconciliation between the people through peaceful means.

Tsulukiani cited the 1994 agreement prohibiting the introduction of heavy military equipment by all parties into the Kodori Gorge. She stated that the smaller group within the United National Movement supported adherence to such agreements.

Prior to Vashadze's testimony, the Commission heard from Paata Davitaia, who headed the temporary parliamentary commission established in 2008 to investigate the August war, and Mikheil Kareli, who served as the State Representative in the Shida Kartli region from 2004 to 2007.

The ongoing inquiry aims to shed light on the policies and decisions made during the specified period concerning Georgia's occupied territories and the lead-up to the 2008 war.