Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze asserts that all those involved in the 2008 loss of Georgian territories must be held accountable.

He echoed the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees from occupied Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.

“The 2008 war demands a thorough investigation, as society continues to ask who was truly interested in initiating the conflict and what consequences it brought upon our country. Lost territories, destroyed infrastructure, civilian casualties, and heroic soldiers, those who contributed to these tragedies through political actions and decisions, should be held responsible. We must confront reality and uncover how this has happened. Many questions remain unanswered in society,” he stated.

Kaladze also criticized the opposition, describing the United National Movement (UNM) and ex-President Saakashvili as a criminal gang that caused harm to Georgia.

“We had to take a political step that would not harm the Georgian people or the country. The UNM and Saakashvili’s regime were a criminal gang that inflicted damage on our nation. Many innocent lives, civilians and brave soldiers were lost, and we forfeited our territories. This is a serious issue that must be addressed,” Kaladze said.

Kaladze emphasised a pragmatic approach in the current government policies, focused on national interests.

“Our government pursues a pragmatic policy aimed at safeguarding Georgia’s sovereignty. Patriots, those who love their homeland, must prioritise territorial integrity, national unification, and the return of territories occupied by Russia. Our policy is clear: the return of these territories is achievable and, to me, a realistic goal,” he affirmed.

Kaladze highlighted that the government’s pragmatic stance has helped maintain peace in the country.

“Once again, I emphasise that all individuals and politicians must be accountable for the disaster, regardless of who is president, Saakashvili or someone else. We are in politics to prevent threats and protect our nation. If we had made mistakes, such as engaging in a second war or succumbing to blackmail and intimidation, a scenario I am grateful we avoided, just imagine where we would be today. Would we be discussing infrastructure projects? This is the reality we must face,” he concluded.

On June 4, during its 79th session in New York, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution initiated by Georgia, alongside 63 countries from around the world, titled “On the Status of Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia.”