Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The US vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, arguing it does not condemn Hamas nor grant "Israel" the right to “self-defense.”
Israeli occupation forces issue a new bombing threat against civilian buildings in the Southern Lebanese towns of Borj Qalaouiye and Chehabiyeh.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Extending the snapback mechanism deadline will test how independent Europeans truly are from the US.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Activating the snapback mechanism will nullify the Cairo Agreement, shut the door on cooperation between the IAEA and Tehran, and bar inspections.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The diplomatic window remains open, but signs of activating the snapback sanctions mechanism on Iran are increasing.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Although the Cairo Agreement meets an important part of European demands, they have begun speaking of new conditions in recent communications.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: European countries show no independence in their stance toward Iran during the talks.
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.

Georgia to apologize for inciting 2008 war in Ossetia

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 15 Sep 2024 14:31
4 Min Read

Former president Mikhail Saakashvili has been accused of inciting the 2008 war with "outside" assistance, according to a 12-year investigation.

Listen
  • x
  • Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the Georgian Dream Party, greets demonstrators during a rally in support of
    Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the Georgian Dream Party, greets demonstrators during a rally in support of "Russian law" in Tbilisi, Georgia, on April 29, 2024. (AP)

Georgia's former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili accused the National Movement opposition party of inciting the 2008 war in South Ossetia, highlighting the country will find the strength to apologize for the "bloody conflict" while seeking to restore trust and unity between the two nations.

The pro-Western opposition party was founded by Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's ex-president who served from 2004 to 2013. The former leader sent troops into the breakaway region of Ossetia in August 2008, shelling a Russian base that had been used by peacekeepers since 1990, essentially igniting a war on the territory.

Russia retaliated with an operation that saw the defeat of Georgian forces, after which it recognized the independence of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway region. 

Saakashvili is currently serving a six-year prison sentence due to abuse of power-related charges after he was ousted from office in 2013.

Saakashvili responsible for the 2008 war,  12-year investigation reveals

Ivanishvili, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, stated at an election campaign event on Saturday that a 12-year investigation concluded the war “provoked by Saakashvili’s criminal regime” with “outside” assistance, aimed at damaging national unity.

The Georgian government complied several pieces of evidence, according to Ivanishvili, indicating the National Movement party started the war and committed "the worst crime."

Related News

Georgia started war with South Ossetia 'on orders from abroad': PM

South Ossetia to have referendum on joining Russia

“We were well aware that all this was a well-planned provocation from the outside against the Georgian and Ossetian people, the purpose of which was to split our unity, destroy relations, and make us exist in conditions of endless, artificial confrontation,” Ivanishvili stated.

The politician underlined the importance of recognizing past mistakes and re-establishing territorial integrity, as well as “the centuries-old brotherhood and friendship between Georgians and Ossetians.”

Ivanishvili denounced the “instigator of the war," and pledged to bring the parties responsible for deteriorating the relations between the nations to justice.

“We will definitely find the strength to apologize for the flames which enveloped our Ossetian brothers and sisters in 2008 on the orders of the traitorous National Movement,” he added, pledging that party officials will face a Georgian “Nuremberg process,” alluding to the post-WWII trials of Nazi war criminals.

Last month, the government announced plans to establish a parliamentary commission to review the 2008 events, stating that Saakashvili’s actions were based on instructions “from the outside,” deemed as “a well-planned betrayal.” The former leader could potentially face additional treason charges, resulting in life imprisonment.

US plans to support Georgian opposition protests during elections: SVR

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said on Wednesday it had obtained evidence that the US Department of State was planning to assist the Georgian opposition in seizing power by providing a pretext for protests around the time of the October 26 legislative elections.

"Washington's plan is clear and no longer surprising — it is to give the pro-Western Georgian opposition a reason to stage mass protests to seize power in the country by force," the agency said in a statement.

The SVR said that the US had the support of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which is expected to release an interim report on Georgia's electoral process weeks before the election.

This report is predicted to accuse the Georgian Dream-led government of failing to ensure a free and fair election.

After the vote, ODIHR is expected to declare the election undemocratic.

  • Russia
  • Tbilisi
  • Georgia
  • south Ossetia
  • Mikheil Saakashvili
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

12 Israeli soldiers killed, wounded in Resistance operation in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 18 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS