Georgian Parliament Investigates Saakashvili-Era Military Decisions
On September 2, Tea Tsulukiani, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, presented a 460-page report from the parliamentary commission investigating the activities of Mikheil Saakashvili’s government.
In her speech, Tsulukiani stated that testimonies provided to the investigative commission showed that on August 6, 2008, Defense Minister David Kezerashvili and Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili, who both lacked military experience, rejected an operational plan developed by professional military personnel after years of preparation. She emphasized that the changes imposed by politicians and the subsequent actions "raise many questions and require additional analysis by representatives of the defense system."
According to accounts from General Gogava, General Kurashvili, General Balakhadze, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Shalva Janashvili, military doctor Lasha Koiava, and others, the Georgian army entered a war "controlled by politicians far removed from military affairs," who ignored military advice and decided to attack Tskhinvali, making it the main direction of military action. Tsulukiani added that, by the decision of these politicians, the execution of operations in Tskhinvali was entrusted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which caused disorientation among the defense forces and insecurity among civilians.
The commission also established that the government of the United National Movement was aware of the critical tension in the conflict zone at least since late July 2008 but failed to take measures to evacuate civilians. As Grigol Vashadze testified, the timely evacuation of the population "was not among the regime’s goals."
Furthermore, Tsulukiani noted that UNM deputies Giorgi Kandelaki, David Darchiashvili, Giorgi Gabashvili, and Chiora Taktakishvili, along with journalist Giorgi Targamadze from the Christian Democratic Movement, voted for Resolution No. 1633 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, thereby recognizing the bombing of Tskhinvali on the night of August 7, 2008, and "groundlessly accusing their own army of possible war crimes."
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