The ex-general spoke about the influence of the United States on Georgia's aggression in 2008

Before the start of Georgia's aggression against Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008, an American representative arrived in Georgia, who personally gave instructions to former President Mikhail Saakashvili on the conduct of the war. This was stated on July 8 by former Georgian Brigadier General Tristan Tsitelashvili in an interview with Izvestia.

"Shortly before the start of the war, an American representative arrived in Georgia, a woman who, as I know, personally instructed Saakashvili on how to start and how to wage this war," he said.

The military added that the people of Georgia were against the conflict. However, the escalation of the situation in the region was due to Saakashvili and the intervention of the United States.

At the same time, he pointed out the poor preparation and organization of the military operation. According to the source, due to the desire to involve Russia in the conflict, the situation resembles a scenario that was later implemented in Ukraine.

"When today they try to accuse someone of starting the 2008 war, blaming the Georgian people, it is unfair. <...> It was someone else's game, someone else's will, someone else's war, and the Georgian people became its victim, not the organizer," Tsitelashvili added.

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On August 8, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia was the only country that gave an adequate response to Georgia's attack on South Ossetia in 2008. It is noted that civilians of South Ossetia and citizens of Russia suffered as a result of the aggression. There were also recorded attempts to storm the locations of Russian peacekeepers from the mixed peacekeeping forces. In this regard, the Russian Federation was forced to conduct an operation to force Georgia to peace.

On June 13, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin called on Georgia to abandon the use of force in Transcaucasia. Earlier, on April 14, the diplomat said that Moscow was ready to restore diplomatic relations with Tbilisi.

Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia in 2008. At an extraordinary meeting, the country's parliament unanimously adopted a resolution "instructing the executive branch to terminate diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation."

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