De facto Foreign Ministry of occupied Abkhazia issues statement regarding launch of treason and sabotage investigation by Georgian Prosecutor’s Office following remarks by UNM’s Giorgi Baramidze

The de facto Abkhazian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official comment regarding the Georgian Prosecutor General’s Office’s initiation of a criminal case against former Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Giorgi Baramidze.

The investigation into treason and sabotage, initiated at the request of the Georgian State Service for Veterans’ Affairs, was prompted by Baramidze’s public statements regarding the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict of 1992–1993.

Touching on the topic of prisoner exchanges, the former official stated that the Georgian side could not have carried out the exchange because it was executing Abkhaz prisoners.

The de facto Ministry emphasized that “Baramidze’s criminal prosecution is clearly politically motivated and is intended to serve as a warning to anyone willing to speak openly about Georgia’s armed aggression and the crimes committed during it.”

According to the de facto Abkhaz Foreign Ministry, “this decision represents an attempt to exert pressure on that part of Georgian society and the political elite that, decades later, demonstrates a willingness to objectively reflect on the tragic events of the past.”

The de facto Ministry noted that “the Republic of Abkhazia has consistently stated for many years the need for recognition of the crimes of 1992–1993, their comprehensive investigation, and international legal assessment.”

“Instead of constructively and responsibly reflecting on the events of the past, part of Georgian society continues to deny the crimes committed, cynically replacing them with politicized interpretations. However, historical truth cannot be completely forgotten. Over time, objective assessments of events are increasingly being confirmed, including by that part of Georgian society that demonstrates a willingness to acknowledge the mistakes made, including representatives of the Georgian political elite.

Attempts to restrict public discussion of historical facts are unable to change historical memory and an objective assessment of the events that took place, the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes. “Such actions only demonstrate the lack of readiness of certain political forces in Georgia to openly and responsibly reflect on the events of 1992–1993,” reads the statement.