Government’s main goal is to protect national interests in “battle of whales”, says Georgian Parliament Speaker on 17th anniversary of Russia’s military aggression

On the 17th anniversary of the August 2008 Russo-Georgian War, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili took to social media to reflect on the conflict and its enduring impact on Georgia. He stated that the war “reopened the unhealed wound received 33 years ago” from the war in Abkhazia.

17 years ago, Russia launched a war against Georgia. As a result of the August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia, Georgia lost 170 servicemembers of theMinistry of Defense, 14 officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and 228 civilians. The total number of wounded and injured civilians and military personnel amounted to 2,232.

Papuashvili opened his post with a stark observation on a recurring cycle of conflict.

“War and bloodshed every 15 years... Wars that give rise to heroes devoted to the motherland and political adventurers who are ready to turn their country into a plaything for others, contrary to the interests of the nation”, the Speaker said.

He noted that much has been written about the 2008 war, the heroism of many, and the culpability of others, emphasising that the current geopolitical climate, particularly the war in Ukraine, has brought new clarity to the dangers Georgia faces.

“The war in Ukraine and the events connected with it show us the scale of the danger that can threaten our country," he wrote, warning that ‘just’ or ‘traditional’ wars waged in territories that have fallen into the interest areas of great states are often used as a battlefield”, Papuashvili continued.

He emphasised that the events in Ukraine since 2022 have made clear what was less obvious in 2008. He characterised the Ukraine conflict as “another episode of the strategic struggle between the West and Russia”, and drew a painful parallel between Ukraine's plight and Georgia's experience.

“Ukraine's humanitarian catastrophe, the devastation of the country, the demographic tragedy, and the threat of the disappearance of statehood are very painful and close to us, because it includes everything that Georgia's 2008 rulers so negligently and cruelly sacrificed”, the Speaker noted.

Papuashvili reiterated the Georgian Dream party's core mission - to preserve peace and safeguard national interests.

“The goal of a Government that cares for the country is to survive in the conditions of the battle of whales and to take care of its own national interests”, he stressed, crediting the Georgian Dream and its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili with upholding this principle since coming to power.

The Speaker claimed that in 2022, “despite the attempts of internal and external pests or useful idiots”, Georgia narrowly avoided being drawn into a new war. He accused certain groups of trying to force Georgia into playing a predetermined role, “to perform the function of a fallen pawn on the chessboard”.

“We must always remember that the main threat to Georgia is the enemy within. Throughout our history, our fortress was always broken from the inside. Even today, blinded Georgians are being used to try to sow unrest, destabilisation, division, and chaos - all of which serve only the interests of our external enemies”, he said.

“Their only goal in returning to or gaining power is to drag the state into crisis under pseudo-European slogans. That is exactly what they did to us in 2008, and God forbid - they would do it again in the future”, Papuashvili noted.

He further added that the main reason the Georgian Government managed to break the cursed cycle of perpetual war and chaos in recent years is that internal and external enemies were faced not by candy-craving activists with tassels, but by true patriots of Georgia in power.

“The absolute majority of our citizens remember this well. History is a good teacher - as long as it is remembered. We do remember, and we do not forget either the recent history of our homeland or our millennia-old chronicle. Glory to the warriors who fell on the battlefield for their homeland!” Papuashvili concluded.