The claim that the Russo-Georgian war began on August 8, and that on August 7 the Georgian authorities bombed Tskhinvali, is Russia’s official narrative and shifts the entire burden of responsibility onto Georgia, representing a political choice that runs counter to the national interests of our state — this is how the Coalition for Change evaluated the statement by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze regarding the start date of the 2008 war.
As noted in the statement released by the party, the prime minister’s remark contradicts Georgia’s constitutional principles and the long-established official position of the state on the issue of occupation.
“The Coalition for Change strongly condemns the statement made by Irakli Kobakhidze on August 8, in which he deliberately falsified historical facts and legal assessments contrary to Georgia’s national interests. <…>”
There are several independent international findings regarding the 2008 war (the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia — the so-called Tagliavini Commission, 2009; the European Court of Human Rights, Georgia v. Russia (II) case, 2021; the International Criminal Court, 2022; repeated resolutions of the UN General Assembly), which collectively paint a clear picture that both the outbreak of hostilities and the resulting occupation, ethnic cleansing, and ongoing violation of Georgia’s sovereignty are the responsibility of the Russian Federation.
Against this backdrop, the statement made by Irakli Kobakhidze purposefully and deliberately weakens Georgia’s standing in relations with international institutions and partner states and could potentially be used by Russia to mitigate its own responsibility and shift the full weight of blame onto Georgia.
Kobakhidze’s statement intentionally creates political and legal ambiguity regarding the country’s recent history, which weakens the resilience of our state both domestically and in the international arena. This statement, which contradicts Georgia’s constitutional principles and the long-established official position of the state on the issue of occupation, requires a strict political and legal assessment.
“The Coalition for Change believes that immediately following a change of power, objective and independent justice must launch an investigation and provide a legal assessment as to whether this statement by Kobakhidze contains elements of a criminal offense, and what motives and goals drive him when, on behalf of Georgia, he makes a statement containing deliberately falsified historical facts and legal assessments that damage Georgia’s national interests.”
We call on all pro-Western political forces to cooperate with one another to remove from power the regime that deliberately harms Georgia’s national interests, as well as to examine and assess the anti-national nature of its actions.
“The Coalition for Change reaffirms that full responsibility for the August 2008 war and its consequences (the ongoing occupation of Georgian territory, ethnic cleansing, widespread and gross human rights violations, and the violation of Georgia’s sovereignty) lies with the Russian Federation,” the statement reads.
