Georgian Prime Minister Kobakhidze accuses opposition of foreign‑driven Russophobia

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze posted a lengthy statement on Facebook ahead of the August 2008 war anniversary, claiming that Georgia’s opposition, civil‑society groups, journalists and activists display “fake Russophobia” at the behest of unnamed external forces. He invoked the terms “global war party” and “deep state,” arguing that the opposition only turned anti‑Russian after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and that Russia’s occupation of about 20 % of Georgian territory stemmed from crimes committed by the former United National Movement government.

Conflict analyst Paata Zakareishvili said the statement serves the ruling Georgian Dream party and its honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili, positioning Kobakhidze for the upcoming parliamentary elections by portraying the government as the guarantor of peace while warning against banning opposition parties.