State Service of Veterans Affairs to refer Gia Baramidze’s statement to Prosecutor’s Office

The State Service of Veterans Affairs will refer Gia Baramidze’s statement to the Prosecutor’s Office, Koba Kobaladze, Head of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, told GPB First Channel.

The matter concerns remarks made by one of the leaders of the United National Movement, Gia Baramidze, who claimed that “during the war in Abkhazia, Georgian soldiers were executing prisoners of war, which is why the Abkhazian side refused to release captives.”

As Kobaladze noted, Baramidze’s statement “is not merely a slap in the face to veterans; it is an attempt to destroy any prospect for the country.”

“Out of nowhere, this whining nonentity steps forward and rashly claims that the forces under Russian command allegedly conducted combat operations with far greater dignity and were far more merciful towards captives than the Georgians, those who fought on Georgia’s side with a truly sacred mission for the country’s freedom and unity. Even our enemies never levied such an accusation against us, because they knew we were always men who fought with honour.

Following the end of hostilities, we began the painful, step-by-step process of reaching out to one another. During the repatriation of the fallen, the Abkhazian side provided immense support, and we have been developing relationships between our children along a fairly substantial and hopeful path. Having failed to drag the state into war, they have now aired an utterly nonsensical accusation. We will unequivocally submit a joint application to the Prosecutor’s Office to assist us in conducting an appropriate, competent inquiry, and we will demand that the truth be established,” declared Koba Kobaladze.