2008 War Anniversary Clash: Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream marked the 18th anniversary of the August 2008 war with officials visiting Mukhatgverdi Brothers’ Cemetery, while Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and President Mikheil Kavelashvili blamed the Saakashvili government for starting the conflict and reiterated that Russia’s occupation remains the core issue. Opposition Pushback: The National Movement’s Irakli Kobakhidze-related remarks were denounced as “treasonous” by the UNM, and Coalition for Change leader Nika Gvaramia called the revisionist start-date claims both politically and legally dangerous. Diplomatic Fallout: Georgia’s Foreign Ministry urged Russia to end illegal occupation and comply with the 2008 EU-mediated ceasefire, as Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused the West and “Georgian radicals” of trying to pull Tbilisi into new conflict and called for border delimitation and non-use-of-force talks. International Warnings: The UK, France, Germany, and Italy warned Moscow against any move toward full annexation of occupied South Ossetia, citing risks tied to recent de-facto administrative steps. Legal Probe: Prosecutors launched an investigation into Giorgi Baramidze’s statements, with Abkhazia’s de-facto authorities responding that the case is meant to deter open discussion of alleged war crimes.