A temporary parliamentary commission for investigation of crimes committed by the former ruling United National Movement party, formed on 5 February 2025, has started its work in Georgia under the presidency of Thea Tsulukiani, a member of the political council of the Georgian Dream party.
As it is noted, the commission will investigate crimes committed not only from 2003 to 2012, but will also cover the period after 2012, as well as the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili and, in particular, the events of August 2008, in relation to which a number of former Georgian military officials and politicians have already been questioned.
For South Ossetia, the tragedy of August 2008, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, Russian and Ossetian peacekeepers and brought suffering to thousands of its citizens, was and still remains an open wound. Undoubtedly, the perpetrators guilty of unleashing military aggression, who ordered the invasion of South Ossetia, attacked peacekeepers and committed acts of genocide against the Ossetian people must be punished.
Time will show how accurately and transparently the current commission will approach the assessment of the events of August 2008, but the results of the work of the international commission headed by Tagliavini, which determined that Georgia is an aggressor, are obvious. It is also evident that the people of South Ossetia have chosen to build an independent state and to strive for comprehensive strengthening of relations with Russia, which is the guarantor of its security, and other friendly countries. August 2008 clearly demonstrated who is a friend of the Ossetian people and who is a foe.
29 March 2025