Georgia, Tbilisi, Dec. 6 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
Former Parliamentary Speaker, opposition Democratic Movement - United Georgia leader Nino Burjanadze claimed today that the country's opposition parties made a "big mistake" by supporting the government on Aug. 8, 2008.
"We made a big mistake by supporting (President Mikheil) Saakashvili to spite Russia, although we were well aware of who instigated the war," she said in an interview with the Asaval-Dasavali newspaper today.
"Saakashvili started the war, which led to grave consequences for Georgia," she said. "We lost our territory and became vulnerable."
Burjanadze added that Saakashvili has again restored his image thanks to Georgia's participation in the NATO military operations in Afghanistan.
"If today anyone is helping Saakashvili, it is our countrymen who are shedding their blood for this reason in Afghanistan," he said.
Military actions were launched in the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia in August 2008. Georgian troops entered Tskhinvali. Later, Russian troops occupied the city and drove the Georgian military back into Georgia proper. Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Aug. 26 and established diplomatic relations with the de facto states on Sept. 9.