Russian diplomat echoes Georgian ruling party accusations against ex-Pres Saakashvili over 2008 war

Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, reiterated the Georgian Dream party’s accusations against former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili for his role in the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.

Speaking at the UN this week, Polyansky quoted a recent statement by Georgian Dream, claiming that Saakashvili’s actions during the conflict were “externally ordered and well-planned treason”.

On the 16th anniversary of the war, Georgian Dream issued a statement condemning Saakashvili’s government for initiating the conflict, a narrative that aligns with Russian propaganda.

The party’s statement followed legal victories for Georgia in international courts, which ruled in favor of Georgia regarding the events of the war. Tina Kandelaki, a prominent Russian propagandist, praised the Georgian Dream’s stance, calling it a “triumph of truth.”

The August 2008 war resulted in the deaths of 228 Georgian civilians, 14 police officers, and 169 servicemembers. The conflict displaced nearly 150,000 people, with 30,000 still unable to return home. Georgia lost control of 189 villages, 125 of which remain under Russian occupation.

Despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by then-EU President Nicolas Sarkozy, Russia continues to violate its terms by maintaining a military presence in the region. Russia and a few other countries have recognized the independence of Georgia’s breakaway regions, although some nations later revoked this recognition.