Georgia marked the 18th anniversary of the August 2008 war with renewed calls for Russia to withdraw its forces from Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, while competing interpretations of the conflict's origins and legacy remained at the center of polarizing political discussions.

In a statement issued on 8 August, Georgia's Foreign Ministry said Russia continues to violate the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement, expand its control over the occupied territories and pursue their militarization and de facto annexation. The ministry reiterated Georgia's commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and called for the withdrawal of Russian forces as well as the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees.

The anniversary once again highlighted differing views on the timeline of the war. While the Georgian government held official commemorations on 8 August, opposition parties and many international partners observed the anniversary on 7 August, reflecting underlying disagreements over when the conflict began and the events that led to its escalation.

At commemorative events in Tbilisi, leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party again blamed the government of former president Mikheil Saakashvili for triggering the conflict. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze argued that the actions of the former administration contributed to the outbreak of the war, while also describing Russia's subsequent occupation of Georgian territories as a crime against Georgia's sovereignty. President Mikheil Kavelashvili likewise blamed the former United National Movement government for the events that led to the war, while Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said that Georgia became a victim of broader geopolitical confrontation and suggested the conflict could have been avoided under different political leadership.

Russia's Foreign Ministry reiterated its longstanding position that Saakashvili's government initiated the conflict, describing Russia's military intervention as an operation aimed at forcing peace. Moscow also welcomed recent statements by Georgian officials on reconciliation with Abkhazians and Ossetians and expressed readiness to support dialogue in the region. The de facto authorities in occupied Tskhinvali similarly argued that responsibility for the war extended beyond the former Georgian leadership and pointed to recent statements by Georgian officials as support for their position.

Opposition parties rejected the government's interpretation of the conflict, arguing that Russia bears primary responsibility for the war and the continued occupation of Georgian territories. Several opposition figures accused the ruling party of promoting narratives that align with Moscow's position and stressed the need for a united stance on issues related to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The anniversary also prompted a broad show of international support for Georgia. The United States, the European Union, NATO and numerous European governments reaffirmed their backing for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, condemned Russia's continued military presence in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, and called for full implementation of the 12 August 2008 ceasefire agreement.

The five-day war in August 2008 claimed hundreds of lives, displaced tens of thousands of people and resulted in Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region as independent entities, a move rejected by Georgia and most of the international community. Eighteen years later, around 20% of Georgia's internationally recognized territory remains under Russian control, with Russian forces stationed in the two regions, while issues related to occupation, security, displaced persons and the legacy of the conflict continue to shape Georgia's domestic political discourse and foreign policy priorities.