Ex-president Saakashvili slams ruling GD’s Ivanishvili’s for suggesting apology to Ossetians

Mikheil Saakashvili, former president of Georgia, took to social media to criticize Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and the Honorary Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, regarding apologizing to Ossetians.

Saakashvili accused Ivanishvili of committing an “unprecedented act of betrayal” in Georgian history.

“With his statement, Ivanishvili justified Russia’s attack, the destruction of people, and the leveling of villages,” Saakashvili wrote, adding that “Instead of demanding an apology from Russia for the devastation they caused to our country, he called on Georgians to apologize to the invader. This shame will stain us for a long time.”

The former president expressed confidence that the Georgian people would respond decisively to what he termed an “unforgivable betrayal” during October 26 elections, likely alluding to upcoming political events or demonstrations.

At the GD regional campaign rally held on Saturday in Gori, Shida Kartli region, Ivanishvili accused Saakashvili-founded party United National Movement (UNM) of igniting the 2008 Russian-Georgian war, stating that the conflict was not the will of the Georgian or Ossetian people but rather the result of reckless decisions by then UNM-led government.

“When every perpetrator is punished for the collapse of our historic brotherhood, we will have the strength to apologize to the Ossetian people,” Ivanishvili stated, insisting that this justice is essential for national reconciliation.