For months, Georgia has been in political turmoil over its foreign policy direction, with a sharp divide between those who favor closer ties with the West and those leaning towards Russia. As the country heads into crucial elections this October, a new controversy has erupted. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, has stirred a heated debate by suggesting that Georgia should apologize for its 2008 war with Russia.
On Saturday, Ivanishvili, who made his fortune in Russia before entering Georgian politics, declared that Georgia should apologize to the people of South Ossetia. South Ossetia, a region that broke away from Georgia in the 1990s and was further supported by Russia in 2008, has been a focal point of conflict.
His comments came during a rally in Gori, a town briefly occupied by Russian forces in 2008. This proposal was met with swift backlash from pro-Western activists and opposition leaders. On Sunday, hundreds of Georgians protested outside Parliament in Tbilisi, chanting, “No to the Kremlin’s diktat!”
Mikheil Saakashvili, who was Georgia’s president during the 2008 war, condemned Ivanishvili’s statement as a “betrayal” and “an insult to the memory of the heroes who sacrificed for our country.” Saakashvili, who is currently imprisoned on charges he claims are politically motivated, accused Ivanishvili of trying to shift blame to Georgians for the actions of an invader.
The 2008 war between Georgia and Russia lasted just five days but had lasting impacts. It began over South Ossetia and quickly spread, with Russia blocking key roads and briefly occupying strategic areas like the port of Poti. A cease-fire was eventually reached with international mediation.
An independent European Union report in 2009 indicated that the war was triggered by a Georgian artillery attack but criticized Russian military actions as excessive. All sides involved, including separatists, were found to have violated international law.
Ivanishvili’s comments have intensified an already polarized electoral campaign. He has promised a “Nuremberg trial” against members of the United National Movement, the pro-Western party that governed during the 2008 war. He labeled the opposition as “criminals” and “traitors,” and vowed that they would face severe legal consequences.
Despite his official role as honorary chairman of Georgian Dream, Ivanishvili is widely believed to be the party’s real power. His recent statements are seen as part of a broader effort to consolidate support ahead of the October 26 elections.
Georgia, once a strong pro-Western nation emerging from the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, has seen its government grow increasingly critical of Western policies. The Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012, has recently passed controversial laws restricting pro-Western NGOs and media. It is also