Former military official accuses UNM officials of gross interference in military command during 2008 war

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

During a session, Lasha Koiava, the Head of the Medical Department of the Ground Forces under the former UNM Government, accused the former UNM officials of gross interference in the management of military operations.

Koiava noted that the then officials did not allow the army to carry out what was planned and what they were supposed to do.

“Our units were not allowed to attack the Java defence line. We could not get to the Roki tunnel if we did not overcome the Java defence line. So, when they say that we were not given the chance to block the tunnel, it's true - we were not allowed to do so. Due to serious interference in military command, our forces could not execute their mission. And this is a fundamental distinction - it was not because our soldiers and officers were weak or incapable; they were simply not permitted to carry out what had been planned”, Koiava said.

Koiava further revealed that Georgian military engineers had prepared to destroy a key route leading from Java to Tskhinvali, but they were denied permission to proceed.

“This was the only road connecting Java and Tskhinvali, and it had to be demolished. Our engineers were ready to do it, but they were not allowed to”, he concluded.