Georgian authorities and opposition argue over the need to apologize to Ossetians

The founder and honorary chairman of Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, said that it is necessary to find the strength to apologize for the fact that the Unity – National Movement party, which was in power in 2008, "enveloped Ossetian sisters and brothers in flames."

According to him, the August 2008 war "was not the will of either the Georgian or Ossetian people." He reiterated that Georgian Dream needs a constitutional majority in parliament for amendments related to the country's territorial integrity.

"European integration is our strategic choice, but we could not choose our neighbors, and therefore, in parallel with European integration, we had to take a principled but correct position towards Russia!" Ivanishvili noted.

"Bidzina Ivanishvili must apologize to all the military, to every citizen of Georgia," said Tamar Kordzaia, leader of the Unity - National Movement party. This is how the opposition politician responded to Bidzina Ivanishvili's promise to "find the strength to apologize" for what happened in 2008.

"I don't know how he will live after these words. There are angry people on social networks, they are very offended. We need to apologize to the military who heroically fought to protect Georgia from the Russians," said Kordzaia.

Meanwhile, a protest has begun in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi. The reason is Ivanishvili's aforementioned statement.

In August 2008, military actions were conducted between Georgia on one side and the Russian Federation and the self-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia supported by it on the other side (the "Five-Day War", or the Russian-Georgian War). They ended after the signing of an EU-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Последние новости
Human Rights Activist: Mansur Movlaev's Kidnapped Parents Released
Human rights
Human Rights Activist: Mansur Movlaev's Kidnapped Parents Released
21 June 2026

The parents of activist Mansur Movlaev, previously kidnapped in Chechnya, have been released and returned home. This was reported by human rights activist Maxim Rudnev.
The search for Khizir Derbichev continues for seven days: divers and drones are involved
Society
The search for Khizir Derbichev continues for seven days: divers and drones are involved
21 June 2026

For seven days now, tens of thousands of volunteers from across the North Caucasus have been searching for little hero Khizir Derbichev, who was swept away by the powerful current of the Sunzha River near the village of Yandare in the Nazran District of Ingushetia. Despite fatigue, icy water, and challenging conditions, the men are carefully surveying the underwater area and the shoreline, searching under rocks, trees, and slabs.
Another victim of severe weather: a 15-year-old boy has been found dead after falling into a river in Karachay-Cherkessia
Society
Another victim of severe weather: a 15-year-old boy has been found dead after falling into a river in Karachay-Cherkessia
20 June 2026

The natural disaster that struck the North Caucasus and southern Russia continues to cause serious damage. Flooded homes, hail-destroyed crops, overturned ships, and human tragedies—the consequences of this unruly weather are becoming increasingly tangible.
Ingushetia, a fair was canceled to facilitate the search for a boy missing in a river
Society
Ingushetia, a fair was canceled to facilitate the search for a boy missing in a river
20 June 2026

Today, a planned weekend fair was canceled in the city of Sunzha, Ingushetia. The administration's press service explained that the decision was made to prevent traffic congestion and ensure the smooth operation of the task force coordinating the search for the missing boy.