Georgia’s PM accuses opposition of concealing Ukraine war realities

Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, on Wednesday accused the “radical opposition and their media outlets” of “concealing the true impact” of the ongoing war in Ukraine over the past two and a half years.

Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze criticized what he described as “efforts to romanticize” the conflict while downplaying the “severity of the situation”.

Addressing recent incidents involving the damage to the ruling party elections banners using the war-torn Ukraine, the Prime Minister said that the opposition was reluctant to show the “harsh reality” of the war.

“Ukraine is in the worst situation,” he claimed. “Twenty percent of the country’s territory is now occupied, up from 8% before the war began. The area of occupation has increased 2.5 times. The infrastructure is destroyed, with half of the country’s electricity production lost in the energy sector alone. The humanitarian situation is dire, with many areas, including major cities, lacking basic utilities such as gas, electricity, and water.”

Kobakhidze noted the “devastating human toll”, highlighting that tens of thousands of Ukrainians, including hundreds of children, had lost their lives. He criticized the opposition for allegedly trying to portray the war in a positive light, arguing that their goal was to “incite” Georgians to share Ukraine’s fate.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to avoid the “Ukrainization” of Georgia and prevent the country from becoming a second front in the conflict. He urged the public to support peace in the upcoming October 26 vote, warning against any actions that could escalate tensions.