PM evokes “failure” of former President Saakashvili in organising sanctions against Russia for occupation
PM also recalled the statement of the former Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili in the United National Movement Government, who in 2012 said “Russian money does not stink” in welcoming investments of Russian state-run enterprises in the country. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday criticised the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili for transferring “strategic facilities” to Russian state-run enterprises and unilaterally cancelling visa requirements for Russian citizens “a few months” after the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia.
In his remarks over the 14th anniversary of the Russian invasion that sparked the five-day war between the two states and the ongoing Russian occupation of two Georgian regions, Garibashvili stressed the previous United National Movement Government had “not taken any action”, “even in terms of organising international sanctions” against Russia after the war.
I would like to remind our citizens once again [...] [only] a few months had passed following the August war [with Russia], and Saakashvili had already started transferring strategic facilities to Russian state-run enterprises in 2009”, Garibashvili said.
The PM also recalled the statement of the former Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili in the United National Movement Government, who in 2012 said “Russian money does not stink” in welcoming investments of Russian state-run enterprises in the country.
Saakashvili's Government unilaterally cancelled visa requirements for Russian citizens. Saakashvili's Government did not take any action after the war, even to organise sanctions, to start working to impose some sanctions on Russia due to the occupation [of the Georgian territories]”, Garibashvili concluded in his comments.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė on Monday said the approach of appeasement "only nourishes the aggressor's appetite", in remarks on the 14th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Georgia that sparked a five-day war between the two states in 2008 and the ongoing Russian occupation of two Georgian regions.
The Georgian Government has chosen a “peaceful, prudent” policy as the way to restore territorial integrity and unify the country and believes it will definitely achieve the goal, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Monday in connection with the 14th anniversary of the Russian invasion that sparked the five-day war between the two states in 2008 and the ongoing Russian occupation of two Georgian regions.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Sunday paid tribute to the servicemembers who had lost their lives in the Battle of Shindisi during the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia, as part of events marking the 14th anniversary of the conflict.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said the Government would “do its best” to ensure "peace, stability and development" of the country's economy.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Monday said the Georgian Government was continuing its peaceful efforts to end the Russian occupation and “rebuild bridges” with Abkhaz and Ossetian compatriots.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday laid wreaths at the memorial for the servicemembers killed in the 2008 war with Russia and reiterated the country and its citizens had experienced “greatest tragedy” in the conflict.
The International community realised this year that it should have shown a "principled" reaction to Russia’s 2008 war in Georgia, Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze said on Monday at the Mukhatgverdi Fraternal Cemetery outside Tbilisi, reiterating the messages of Georgian top officials that a more robust position against Russia’s aggression 14 years ago could have prevented the current hostilities in Ukraine.