The authorities of Georgia and Russia demonstrated similar rhetoric about the causes of the "Five-Day War."

The third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, and the countries whose instructions he followed are responsible for the outbreak of the "Five-Day War," said representatives of the "Georgian Dream." The West used Georgia as a weapon against Russia, noted former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Memorial events for the fallen took place in Georgian cities, and state flags were lowered on administrative buildings.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", more than four thousand people participated in a mourning event in Tskhinvali, dedicated to the 18th anniversary of the beginning of the "Five-Day War." Residents of South Ossetia sought shelter from shelling in basements and forests. They had to dig graves for the dead during the fighting, and when the sound of a flying shell was heard, people hid in the dug pit and then continued to dig it, eyewitnesses of the "Five-Day War" recounted.

The authorities stated Saakashvili's responsibility for the start of the war

The Saakashvili regime shelled Tskhinvali, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told reporters.

"The Russian-Georgian war began on August 8. On August 8, the Russian army entered when the then President of Russia (Dmitry Medvedev - note from "Caucasian Knot") made the corresponding statement. What happened on August 7 was that the Saakashvili regime shelled Tskhinvali and then signed a resolution stating that the conflict had entered a phase of large-scale hostilities precisely after this fact, when the bloody regime of Saakashvili shelled Tskhinvali," his words are quoted by "Interpressnews."

Kobakhidze placed the responsibility for the start of the war on the "foreign agent" Mikheil Saakashvili.

"We blame the bloody regime of Saakashvili for the start of the war. At that time, this country formally had a traitor as commander-in-chief," "Georgia Online" quotes him.

A similar position was expressed by the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili.

"There would have been no war if a puppet regime like Saakashvili's had not been in power in Georgia at that time, and if a patriotic force like the 'Georgian Dream' had been in power. There would have been no war, no destruction, no casualties," "News Georgia" quotes him.

The West used Georgia as a weapon against Russia, said the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia and former President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev.

According to him, "The West was not interested in the fate of Georgia at all, despite promises of NATO and EU membership."

"The West used Georgia as a reckless tool of geopolitical struggle against us when it was beneficial for them. When our enemies realized that they could achieve nothing, they simply abandoned it to its fate," Dmitry Medvedev noted in an interview with RIA "Novosti."

Medvedev stated that "today Tbilisi is pursuing a pragmatic policy."

"I would not say that Georgia has fully recovered from the shock experienced. Conclusions have indeed been made. Today Tbilisi is pursuing a pragmatic policy, but the damage caused by the actions of the criminal regime will be felt for a long time," said the former President of Russia.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry reminded of the demand for the restoration of the country's territorial integrity

The Georgian Foreign Ministry states that Moscow continues to violate the ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, concluded with the mediation of the EU, and expands control over Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, continues their militarization, and takes steps towards actual annexation. According to the Foreign Ministry, this is accompanied by human rights violations, discrimination against Georgians, and worsening humanitarian and security situations.

Georgia declares its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and calls on Russia to withdraw its troops from the territory of the country and fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire agreement. Tbilisi also emphasizes the importance of the Geneva international negotiations and the safe return of internally displaced persons and refugees.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry emphasizes that after 18 years, the country's goals remain the peaceful restoration of territorial integrity, security, and unity.

Memorial events for the fallen took place in Georgian cities

During these events, representatives of the authorities stated the need to peacefully return the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and other representatives of the "Georgian Dream" laid wreaths at the brotherly cemetery in Mukhatgverdi. Opposition representatives honored the memory of the fallen the day before, writes "News Georgia."

Thus, the Chairman of the Government of Adjara Zurab Pataradze honored the memory of those who died in the 2008 war. He laid flowers at the memorials of heroes in Batumi and Kobuleti, and also visited the graves of fallen soldiers in Kobuleti.

"This is a very difficult day for each of us and for all of Georgia. It has been 18 years since August 8, 2008, but the pain does not diminish. Today we again pay tribute to our heroes — people who gave the most precious thing, their lives, for the independence of our country. This tragedy claimed the lives of more than 400 people, including 21 heroes from our region, Adjara. We bow our heads in their memory and before their families," "Georgia Online" quotes him.

He also noted that the main task of the country remains the de-occupation exclusively by peaceful means, and called this the dream of the fallen heroes.

As a sign of mourning, state flags are lowered on administrative buildings throughout Georgia.