"There is no greater goal than restoring the territorial integrity of Georgia. The restoration of territorial integrity is the declared policy of our Georgian people and will be achieved only through peaceful means. The path to peace involves reconciliation, which requires repentance and mutual forgiveness. This is the way that will lead us to a united Georgia," said Parliament Chairman Shalva Papuashvili, in response to a statement made by Bidzina Ivanishvili in Gori. Papuashvili was asked about the form that an apology might take regarding the 2008 war.
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Shalva Papuashvili also criticized the opposition and non-governmental organizations, stating that they "do not even consider" the peaceful path to restoring territorial integrity and are representatives of the "War Party."
"The opposition, as always, revealed its true nature, showing that they are ready to engage in speculation on all issues. Among these issues is the attempt to overshadow the names of our heroes who fought heroically in 2008 - some of whom died or were maimed during the war, both military and civilian. Now, these heroes’ names are being obscured, as if they were being equated with those who committed war crimes in 2008 or at another time.
War criminals will be held accountable by justice, and the Georgian Dream party is working towards that end. The National Movement abandoned the Hague and Strasbourg processes, which were, in fact, hopeless. It was the Georgian Dream that turned the case around and succeeded. Thanks to Georgian Dream, the Hague Court issued arrest warrants for the so-called Minister of Internal Affairs of Tskhinvali and the head of the illegal detention center.
Regarding war criminals, they will be held accountable. Those who have committed war crimes, including those who tortured Antsukhelidze, must face justice.
What is even more scandalous is the stance of our non-governmental sector, which has labeled the Ossetians as murderers and directly equated them with war criminals. It turns out that, despite millions in foreign funding intended to aid conflict resolution, the non-governmental sector has labeled the Ossetian people as criminals, seemingly refusing to engage with them.
Both Georgians and Ossetians are victims of our current separation. Reconciliation is necessary for moving forward," said Papuashvili.
Georgian Dream founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili, speaking at a pre-election meeting with voters on September 14 in Gori, stated that "As soon as the October 26 elections are over, when the instigators of the war are put on trial and when all criminals receive the strictest legal verdict for the destruction of the Georgian-Ossetian brotherhood and coexistence, we will surely find the strength within ourselves to apologize for the fact that the treacherous National Movement, under the mandate, burned our Ossetian brothers and sisters in 2008."
Family members of soldiers who died in the war responded to Ivanishvili's statement. "Who should my children apologize to, the Russians? The Ossetians? If so, tell me, government!" Teo Tsilosani, the wife of Shindis hero Emzar Tsilosani, wrote on social media.
The opposition also criticized Ivanishvili and the ruling party. The United National Movement believes that Bidzina Ivanishvili's statement was treacherous and that he owes an apology to the public.
