The First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, read a statement from Georgian Dream during a briefing at the United Nations. In the statement, Georgia's ruling party accused former President Mikheil Saakashvili of starting the war in August 2008.
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Polyansky made a statement to the press on August 14, which preceded the joint statement by members of the UN Security Council regarding the 16th anniversary of the August War and the condemnation of Russia's continued violation of Georgia's territorial integrity.
“First of all, every year we're very much surprised by the maniacal desire of our Western colleagues to discuss the issue of Saakashvili’s aggression against the South Ossetia in 2008 and given the effects that are being discovered and given the position of Georgian authorities, this is resembling more and more than masochistic exercise.
I will not comment more. I will just with your permission quote the statement of the political counselor of the ruling Georgian party, Georgia Dream, Democratic Georgia. This is a direct quote:
“The major part of Georgian society is rightfully questioning the adequacy of Saakashvili, but the fact is that in August 2008, the adventurous activities of Saakashvili were result of not only his psychic instability but also instructions from outside and well planned treason. to establish long-term, peace and stability in our country, it is vitally important for us to organize public legal trial for our society to learn once and for all who committed this treasonous crime against our country and our people”.
Just try to recall these words when our Western colleagues will Come later to this room and will lie to you about what happened at that moment.”
After the Russian representative's speech, the UN Security Council member states - France, Japan, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Malta - along with future Security Council members Greece and Denmark, made a joint statement. They reiterated their support for Georgia and condemned Russia's invasion and illegal presence in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.
“Sixteen years have passed since Russia’s full-scale military aggression against and subsequent illegal military presence in Georgia’s sovereign territories – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, South Ossetia regions.
The Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008 marked a more aggressive trend in Russia’s policy regarding its neighboring countries and European security architecture.
As we all are witnessing today with the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, Russia has continued down this path. We are resolute in our reaffirmation of Georgia's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its international recognized borders. We deplore the continuous blatant violation of territorial integrity of Georgia by the Russian Federation. We condemn Russia's brutal invasion and continued illegal military presence, in contravention of the UN Charter and exercising effective control over Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, South Ossetia.
These regions are integral parts of Georgia and Russia steps towards annexation of these Georgian regions through incorporating both regions into its political, military, judicial, economic and social spheres, including signing of integration treaties, transferring the strategically important Bichvinta resort, the Sukhumi Airport and Ochamchire port to the Russian Federation, conducting illegal, so-called “elections,” including Russian presidential elections in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, South Ossetia regions in March, 2024 and parliamentary elections in Tskhinvali, South Ossetia region in June, 2024.
We reiterate our condemnation of Russia's continuous provocations; the continued military drills in Georgia's territory, territorial sea and air space; the steps towards establishment of a permanent naval base in Ochamchire, Abkhazia region, that poses significant threat to the security of Georgia and the wider Black Sea region; the enhanced process of erecting barbed wire fences and other artificial barriers, dividing Georgia's internal regions; unlawful detentions and abductions of the local population; interference with freedom of movement and persistent closures of so-called “crossing points,” discrimination against ethnic Georgians and prohibition of education and residents’ native language, and delivered damage to Georgian cultural heritage.” said the Deputy Permanent Representative of Malta, Francesca Gatti, on behalf of the members of the Security Council.
Georgian Dream intends to investigate the August 2008 war and punish the United National Movement after the October parliamentary elections. As the ruling party announced, now that all disputes in international courts have ended in Georgia's favor and there is no longer any risk of holding "even one Georgian soldier" responsible, it is time to "give a full legal assessment" to all the facts.
