Third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, recalled the August 8, 2008, Russian attack on Georgia. Saakashvili said Russia invaded Georgia for one main reason - Georgia turned into a truly European state.
He said that despite armed attacks, cyberattacks and economic embargoes, Putin could not have changed Georgia"s European course, which is why he has attacked Ukraine.
"Russia has launched a full-scale invasion with its armed forces after political measures were not enough. Armed provocation, cyber-attacks, economic embargo, all international propaganda against us. The main reason why Russia attacked Georgia is that Georgia first set a precedent in the Caucasus and across the post-Soviet space to create a truly European state. That"s why Russia attacked us and nothing more. Russia then failed to solve any of its strategic tasks. Russia could not have stopped Georgia"s Euro-political course, failed to break the Georgian statehood, failed to overthrow the Georgian government," - Mikheil Saakashvili said.
"The war has not ended yet for Russia and what failed in 2008 through military intervention, in 2012 benefited by Bidzina Ivanishvili. So what Ivanishvili is saying, what Ivanishvili"s people are saying, is a continuation of Putin"s war against the Georgian people. They directly introduced the cliches of Russian propaganda, - ”Saakashvili said.