Former PM Noghaideli testifies: 2006 near-conflict was avoided, echoing preventable 2008 war

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.

Zurab Noghaideli, the Prime Minister of Georgia under the former UNM Government, answered the Commission's questions and recalled a significant conflict between himself and former President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Noghaideli noted that in 2006, the resignation of the then Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili had led to tensions in the Tskhinvali region, bringing the Government to the brink of armed conflict. However, the situation was resolved after a heated dispute with the then President.

“We had disagreements over statements that were completely counterproductive and unnecessary. But beyond that, there were much more significant and complex issues. The resignation of Okruashvili in 2006 triggered this conflict in the Tskhinvali region, and we were on the verge of an armed confrontation. Fortunately, we managed to resolve the issue. It was settled through a heated argument with the President and by convincing him”, Noghaideli said.

“I saw that the situation was escalating toward serious tension. This was a critical conflict, and we were on the brink. I draw a comparison with 2008 because I firmly believe that those events could have been prevented, just as the 2006 conflict was averted”, he concluded.