Georgia’s Deputy Parliament Speaker Says Opposition Long Maintained 2008 War Began on August 8

Georgia’s Deputy Parliament Speaker Nino Tsilosani has said opposition representatives had for years maintained that the 2008 Russia-Georgia war began on August 8, before later changing their position following what she described as “external instructions.”

Writing on social media, Tsilosani said that once it became clear from the facts that hostilities were already underway on August 7, presenting August 8 as the start of the war became politically untenable for those she referred to as “foreign agents.”

She claimed that the narrative was then quickly changed and August 7 began to be presented as the date on which the war started.

Tsilosani said the issue should be revisited because, in her view, the question of the war’s start date continues to be used for political speculation.

She also alleged that opposition representatives and some non-governmental organisations had previously promoted August 8 as the beginning of the conflict. According to Tsilosani, the Soros Foundation had created a dedicated website on the issue, which was promoted by civil society representatives, including Giorgi Burjanadze and Saba Brachveli.

The deputy speaker said discussions about Georgia’s recent history should be based on facts rather than political interests, particularly amid renewed public debate over the events surrounding the 2008 war.

“The August War is one of the gravest tragedies in Georgia’s recent history, and using it for narrow party-political purposes is unacceptable,” Tsilosani said.