Former State Minister Goga Khaindrava (2004-2006) stated during a session of the Temporary Investigative Commission to Investigate the Activities of the 2003-2012 Government and Its Officials that Mikheil Saakashvili claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested resolving the Tskhinvali issue peacefully if relations improved.

Khaindrava recalled a meeting between Saakashvili and Putin when Saakashvili was invited to a horse race in Moscow.

“At the end of spring or early summer, Putin hosted a horse race in Moscow, inviting leaders from CIS countries. Saakashvili, accompanied by his wife, Gela Bezhuashvili [ then Secretary of the National Security Council], and me, attended the event at the Moscow Hippodrome. After the race, Putin invited the presidents to a separate dinner, while others, including us, were seated elsewhere. When the event ended, Saakashvili left in a small electric car alongside Putin and other leaders, including Ilham Aliyev and Nursultan Nazarbayev. Later, in the car with us, Saakashvili recounted his conversation with Putin. He said, ‘Putin told me: Look how the Adjara issue was resolved peacefully. If we establish the right kind of relationship, we can similarly resolve the problems in the Tskhinvali region—but it will take about a year. I have my own society; different opinions exist, and we can’t do this immediately.’

There was silence in the car. Bezhuashvili then asked, ‘What do you think?’ Saakashvili responded, ‘A year? No, we will settle this immediately when we return.’ I then realized that, despite the opposition against me, I could not leave my position. Upon returning to Tbilisi, the summer of 2004 unfolded, bringing us to the brink of military conflict,” Khaindrava stated.