PM slams previous Gov’t for “not preventing” Russia-Georgia war on its anniversary

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday slammed the previous United National Movement Government and former President Mikheil Saakashvili for “not preventing” the war with Russia in 2008 and doing “Russia’s job”, on the 15th anniversary of the armed conflict. 

 

In his press comments, Garibashvili claimed “even a child” could have calculated risks to prevent subsequent provocations, adding Saakashvili and his Government had acted “shamefully” during the five-day war claiming the lives of about 400, including more than 200 civilians. 

 

Calling the UNM a “hostile force”, Garibabashvili said it was proceeding with its “anti-state actions” while in the opposition, before hailing his office’s stance to “ensure peace” in the country and reintegrate the occupied regions “only peacefully”. 

 

He also said he “bowed” before the memory of killed servicemembers whom he called “heroes”, and said the war was a “terrible tragedy”.