Advocates of 'second front' still portray Ukraine as being in ‘best position’, Tbilisi Mayor

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said on Friday that those who had wanted Georgia to open a "second front" against Russia were continuing to argue publicly that Ukraine was in a better position despite the war's “devastating consequences.”

Speaking to journalists in response to remarks by opposition politician Nika Gvaramia, Kaladze criticised what he described as efforts to portray Georgia's decision to stay out of the conflict as a mistake.

"Those who wanted war and the opening of a second front are still publicly trying to convince us that Ukraine is in a better position, despite losing territory, suffering hundreds of thousands of casualties and seeing its infrastructure destroyed," Kaladze said.

He claimed critics argue that Georgia is worse off because it did not become directly involved in the war, while accusing them of regretting that the country had refused to follow what he described as an "adventure".

Kaladze also said such statements were an attempt to justify “the mistakes” that led to the 2008 war with Russia, arguing that the government had instead acted to protect Georgia's national interests by avoiding direct involvement in the conflict.