NGOs Criticize Politicians Who Say Georgia Started August War

11 Georgia-based Non-Governmental Organizations have released a joint statement regarding the Georgia-Russia August war 2008, saying they are concerned by the statements of certain politicians that Georgia started the war.

“We believe that making such statements is especially dangerous when the International Criminal Court is investigating the crimes committed during the August war. Thousands of victims have already addressed the court, which clearly indicates the brutal crimes committed by Russian and Ossetian militants and armed men. In addition, the Russian Federation does not cooperate with the court, which further complicates the investigation process,” the NGOs say.

The organizations say it is unacceptable for the presidential candidates of Georgia to speculate with this issue.

“This may cause irreparable damage to the process of justice restoration… Such political assessments are in full compliance with the Russian propaganda which has been trying for years to ignore the crimes committed during the war,” the statement added.

The NGOs call upon all candidates and political subjects participating in the presidential election to respect the investigation of the international court and refrain from making such assessments and dismantling distorted or unverified facts.

Salome Zurabishvili, an independent presidential candidate who will likely be supported by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party in the race, has stated a few times that it was Georgia which started the war with Russia in 2008.

She accused then-President Mikheil Saakashvili of following the provocation of Russia, which located its forces in occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia in summer 2008.

In addition, another female presidential candidate, Nino Burjanadze, who is ex-PM and the leader of Russia-affiliated Democratic Movement-United Georgia, voiced the same position as Zurabishvili.

She stated it is impossible to start negotiations with the Russian Federation and the de facto authorities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia unless Georgia admits it was Saakashvili who started the war and holds him responsible for his actions.

The presidential elections will take place on October 28, 2018.

By Thea Morrison

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Presidential Candidate Zurabishvili Claims Georgia Started August 2008 War