Opposition leader, ex-PM Gakharia slams Gov’t for ‘undermining Georgia’s sovereignty’ on war anniversary

Former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition party For Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia, has accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of aligning itself with Russia to maintain political power, claiming the government had weakened Georgia's stance on the 2008 war.

In a statement published on social media to mark the 17th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war, Gakharia alleged that the current government had “entered into an alliance with the occupying state” and blamed its own country for starting the war- actions he said amounted to justifying Russian aggression.

“Seventeen years ago, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, Russia launched a direct military intervention against Georgia, killing civilians, forcibly displacing thousands, and occupying Georgian territories in violation of international law,” Gakharia wrote.

He warned that the threat posed by Russia did not end at the occupation line and said the government’s rhetoric undermined the international policy of non-recognition regarding the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.

“The threat doesn’t end at the occupation line. In a bid to stay in power, the ruling party entered into an alliance with the occupying state and accused its own country of starting the war, thereby justifying Russia’s aggression and weakening the non-recognition policy,” he said.

Gakharia reaffirmed his party’s commitment to a peaceful reintegration of Georgia’s occupied regions and the country’s path toward Euro-Atlantic integration. He also thanked international partners for supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The comments come as Georgia marks 17 years since the outbreak of the five-day war with Russia, which claimed over 400 lives and displaced tens of thousands. Russia continues to maintain a military presence in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), regions recognised by most of the international community as part of Georgia.