The Chairman of the Adjara Government, Tornike Rizhvadze, called the 2008 Russo-Georgian War a “cowardly loss.” He made this remark after the members of the Supreme Council from the opposition asked about the increased number of Russian citizens in Adjara and the dangers it might pose.
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“Batumi has always been a multicultural city and cultural diversity is nothing new to us, especially tourists, but we are talking about people who were directly involved in the war against Georgian people, whose hands are covered in blood, freely entering and roaming our city. Dignity is the primary virtue for a Georgian man, so what if tomorrow we meet someone on the street, who we know was somehow involved in the 2008 war, for example, what would any self-respecting Georgian do in that case?
Things can come to this point, if the government does not come to its senses and stop letting in people whose hands are covered in Georgian blood,” said Giorgi Kirtadze, a member of the Supreme Council of Adjara from the United National Movement. He also played an audio recording to Rizhvadze, where, according to him, Rizhvadze and Batumi Mayor Archil Chikovani were feasting and drinking with Russian officers in a Batumi hotel while listening to Russian singer Gazmanov's songs.
Rizhvadze confirmed that the number of Russian citizens in Batumi has increased.
“Yes, the number of tourists has increased compared to 2019, which was a quite successful season before the pandemic. The number of visitors has doubled, but with it, the amount of income, and I want to point out that this general increase includes the citizens of a country, which, after the cowardly loss of the war of 2008, Saakashvili’s government greenlit by removed visa restriction and greeted with flowers and Georgian wine,” said Rizhvadze.
Opposition told Rizhvadze that he was disrespecting the fallen heroes of the 2008 war.
“Do you realize you are insulting the heroes? So, the people who fought in 2008 fought a cowardly war? Your entire team is made up of cowards, spearheaded by your precious Borenka [Putin]. You were almost bridesmaids at Lavrov daughter’s wedding, let Kadyrovites roam our streets, and we will not allow you to bad-mouth our fallen heroes,” Elguja Bagrationi from the National Movement addressed Rizhvadze.
The Chairman of the Adjara Government called members of the United National Movement party “followers after fled leaders”, “Misha-clingers”.
Members of the opposition in the Supreme Council also reminded Rizhvadze of the case of the deceased deputy, Nugzar Putkaradze, which has still not been investigated.