GD’s Mdinaradze fires back at critics, accuses opposition of war narrative manipulation

Ruling Georgian Dream (GD) Executive Secretary, Mamuka Mdinaradze, has strongly responded to recent criticism, accusing the opposition of distorting the narrative around the 2008 August War and manipulating the legacy of fallen Georgian soldier Giorgi Antsukhelidze for political purposes.

In a social media post, Mdinaradze stated that the opposition’s outrage was an attempt to overshadow findings from the parliamentary commission investigating 2008 war crimes. According to him, the commission confirmed that then-President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered the opening of fire on August 7, 2008, at 23:45—a claim supported by General Gogi Gogava. He also accused the United National Movement (UNM) of failing to warn civilians in conflict zones and later endorsing a European resolution that blamed Georgian soldiers for war crimes.

Mdinaradze argued that those now invoking Antsukhelidze’s name had previously supported narratives harmful to Georgian troops, aligning with Russian interests. He described the backlash against him as a politically motivated effort to divert attention from these uncomfortable truths.

Regarding a leaked private exchange, Mdinaradze apologized to the public but insisted that his conversation had been selectively edited and misrepresented. He claimed he was initially responding to offensive remarks in a social media message but refrained from further engagement upon learning his critic was a woman.

“This is yet another example of opposition-driven manipulation. They should reflect on how and why they are being used by anti-national forces,” Mdinaradze stated.