Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described Bidzina Ivanishvili's statement about the apology as joyful and encouraging. She referred to the statement made by the leader of Georgia's ruling party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, as positive and uplifting. As she said, "Russia, as the closest neighbor of Abkhazia, Georgia, and South Ossetia, has a vital interest in the normalization of relations between these states."
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"The issue of post-conflict settlement between Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia is being discussed under the auspices of the Geneva international negotiations on security and stability in the South Caucasus.
Our shared priorities with our Abkhaz and South Ossetian allies remain unchanged: to obtain legally binding guarantees from Tbilisi regarding the non-use of force against Tskhinvali and Sukhumi, and to initiate the process of delimiting state borders with these republics.
Progress in these areas is still impossible to discuss, given the fundamental differences in the approaches of the parties toward the geopolitical reality created in the region.
In this context, recent statements from Georgia about the intention to apologize to the people of South Ossetia for the war initiated by the Saakashvili regime in August 2008 offer a glimmer of hope. It is gratifying to hear public acknowledgment of the long-established fact that a madman, who became yet another victim of America's lies, committed what will be remembered in history as an act of aggression. We remind you that this is not just our interpretation; it was documented in the European Union's report, widely known as the Tagliavini Report. All statements and facts are laid out there.
We hope this attitude will be reflected in the work of the Georgian delegation during the upcoming rounds of international negotiations in Geneva," Zakharova said.
According to her, both Sukhumi and Tskhinvali are ready to "turn the tragic page in the history of relations with Georgia," but with the understanding that "neither Georgia, Abkhazia, nor South Ossetia will forget anything."
"But it’s one thing not to forget and preserve memory; it’s another thing to move forward, normalize relations, and overcome the divisions created by madmen like Saakashvili, who made everyone a hostage to their actions. Russia, as a participant in the international negotiations in Geneva and the closest neighbor of Abkhazia, Georgia, and South Ossetia, has a vital interest in normalizing relations between these states. Moscow is ready to support this in every possible way, both bilaterally and multilaterally," said Maria Zakharova.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of Georgian Dream, stated during his speech at a pre-election meeting with voters in Gori on September 14 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."
Additionally, Georgian Dream has promised voters that after the parliamentary elections, it will investigate the August 2008 war and punish the United National Movement for the "treasonous crime" it committed. Like the Russian government, Georgia Dream claims that Mikheil Saakashvili carried out an "anti-state mission received from abroad."
