Saakashvili: Baramidze worded something incorrectly, but does not deserve attacks from ‘servants of dictatorship’

Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili said United National Movement politician Giorgi Baramidze had “worded something incorrectly” in his recent remarks, but defended him against criticism from the authorities.

“Giorgi Baramidze and I have been friends and comrades for a very long time. He is one of the greatest patriots I have ever met, and during the war in Abkhazia we worked together on prisoner exchanges. We were together in both Sukhumi and Gudauta, where we ourselves were nearly taken prisoner,” Saakashvili wrote on social media.

Saakashvili said he had never heard even a suggestion that Georgian forces had executed prisoners during the conflict.

“I have never heard even a hint of prisoners being executed by Georgians, and I am convinced that this is not true. On the other hand, unimaginable war crimes were committed against Georgians both in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. In the case of Tskhinvali, this has been confirmed by the International Criminal Court in The Hague,” he said.

Saakashvili added that Georgia would “definitely restore control over Abkhazia” and said those responsible for crimes against Georgians would be held accountable.

He also accused former Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani and former president Salome Zourabichvili of making statements or taking actions that, he claimed, contributed to allegations of war crimes against Georgians.

“Giorgi worded something incorrectly, but he certainly does not deserve to be kicked around by the servants of Ivanishvili’s dictatorship, which is founded on betrayal and has elevated a lack of dignity to the level of state policy,” Saakashvili wrote.

Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has launched an investigation into alleged treason and sabotage in connection with remarks made by Baramidze, one of the leaders of the United National Movement.