Prepared by Messenger Staff
Gvaramia Accuses Kobakhidze of 'Treason' Over August 2008 War Remarks
Nika Gvaramia, leader of the opposition Coalition for Change, has accused Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of "treason" over his comments about the August 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
Kobakhidze said the Russia-Georgia war began on August 8, when Russian forces entered the conflict, while Georgian forces had shelled Tskhinvali on August 7.
"The Russia-Georgia war began on August 8. On August 8, the Russian army entered," Kobakhidze said. He added that on August 7, "the Saakashvili regime bombed Tskhinvali."
Gvaramia said Kobakhidze's comments could have legal, political and geopolitical consequences for Georgia. He argued that the issue of responsibility for the war had already been addressed by international courts and political institutions.
"This is treason, truly, unquestionably, and not only in political and emotional dimensions, but also in legal terms," Gvaramia wrote.
Kobakhidze's remarks came as Georgia marked the 18th anniversary of the August 2008 war. Georgia's Foreign Ministry has called on Russia to end its occupation of Georgian territories and comply with the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement.
Here is a tighter, neutral news rewrite that keeps the allegations attributed and includes Baramidze's clarification:
Kobakhidze Condemns Baramidze Remarks as Prosecutors Investigate Treason Allegation
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has condemned remarks by opposition politician Giorgi Baramidze over comments he made about the handling of prisoners during the war in Abkhazia.
Kobakhidze described Baramidze's statement as "morally disgusting and shameful" and said the legal implications would be determined by the relevant authorities.
"The legal side will be established by the relevant agencies, but morally, what this person said is simply disgusting," Kobakhidze told reporters.
He also criticized opposition parties, broadcasters and NGOs for what he said was a lack of response to Baramidze's remarks.
The Prosecutor General's Office has opened an investigation into alleged treason and sabotage. The investigation concerns an interview Baramidze, a senior figure in the United National Movement, gave to politician Iago Khvichia.
During the interview, Baramidze said that during the war in Abkhazia, "we did not have prisoners, our people did not hold prisoners, our people shoot them."
Baramidze later sought to clarify his comments, saying he had been referring to the difficult processes surrounding prisoner exchanges during the early stages of the war.
"I never said that our people were 'shooting' those who were captured, I have never seen that and I do not know any facts about it," Baramidze wrote on social media.
He added that "in the first days of the war, it would have been better to use a different word to describe the exchange of prisoners or other difficult processes."
