Ex-Pres Saakashvili accuses Ivanishvili of orchestrating political crackdown as part of Kremlin plan

Georgia’s third president Mikheil Saakashvili has accused billionaire and ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili of orchestrating political provocations aimed at silencing opposition forces and aligning Georgia with Russia’s interests.

In a social media post, Saakashvili alleged that Ivanishvili’s ultimate plan includes accusing political opponents of attempting an armed overthrow of the government, arresting them, banning opposition parties, and shutting down critical TV stations.

"Everything happening right now is part of a unified Kremlin plan,” he wrote, warning that Ivanishvili is preparing Georgia for a “Black August.”

According to Saakashvili, the arrest and persecution of Ivanishvili’s own allies is merely a distraction to conceal broader authoritarian moves.

He claimed that on August 7—a symbolic date marking the start of the 2008 Russian-Georgian war—Ivanishvili plans to present a so-called “parliamentary commission report” fabricated by Russia’s FSB. The report would allegedly blame Saakashvili personally for starting a “criminal war,” creating a pretext for re-establishing diplomatic ties with Russia and partially recognizing the occupied territories as legitimate Russian holdings.

Saakashvili noted the strategic timing: August is traditionally a vacation period for Western politicians, when global attention is low. “Just like in 2008, people are on holiday, politicians are away, and the heat helps disperse public focus,” he wrote.

He drew parallels with politically motivated charges against Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders in Armenia and Azerbaijan, stating that he is the next target in this Kremlin-driven campaign.

“Ivanishvili’s predictability will only accelerate the Georgian people’s victory,” Saakashvili concluded. “Strength is in unity!”