The de facto authorities in Abkhazia have criticized former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s recent statements on restoring Georgian control over the region, describing them as an “alarming signal” and calling for a clear response from the Georgian authorities.

Abkhazia’s de facto Foreign Minister Oleg Bartsits stated that Saakashvili’s position was consistent with his political outlook, but noted that greater attention should be paid to how such statements are treated in Georgia and by the country’s current leadership.

Saakashvili recently wrote that Georgia’s loss of control over Abkhazia was temporary and that he intended to work with “other patriots” to restore Georgian control following his release from prison. 

Bartsits highlighted that the remarks should not simply be dismissed as personal rhetoric. He argued that they reflect views that remain present within part of Georgia’s political spectrum and said such statements contradict the peaceful approach promoted by the current Georgian government.

He called on Georgian authorities to provide a political and legal assessment of Saakashvili’s remarks and urged international organisations, experts and Western political circles to pay attention to them.

The comments came during a wider discussion in Georgia over competing approaches to the Abkhaz conflict. Opposition leader Nika Gvaramia has advocated a non-military approach based on Georgia’s European integration, economic development and shared security interests. He has proposed presenting Abkhaz society with a future tied to EU membership, including access to European institutions, economic opportunities and security guarantees.

Gvaramia has also rejected both military rhetoric and what he describes as the Georgian Dream government’s approach centred on confidence-building. He argues that European integration and stronger economic and security ties could create conditions for eventual unification without another war.

Bartsits also referred to previous remarks by former Georgian Vice Prime Minister, State Minister and Interior Minister Giorgi Baramidze concerning Abkhaz prisoners during the 1992–1993 war. Bartsits further alleged that although Georgian prosecutors opened a criminal case against Baramidze, he was ultimately charged with treason rather than war crimes or complicity in such crimes. 

Bartsits’s remarks were directed specifically at Saakashvili, but the positions of Saakashvili and Gvaramia reflect the different approaches currently being presented in Georgia over the future of Abkhazia. The dispute ranges from restoring territorial control through a stronger state and military to seeking a long-term settlement through European integration, economic incentives, and confidence-building.