"I am here today because of the fallen; I have a responsibility to them. I cannot allow the wrong assessment to come from some brainwashed individuals.

I do not have the right to refuse to answer questions regarding the 2008 war because I will not allow any brainwashed person to approach the family of a fallen hero and tell them that their son was led by an unworthy man who has no answers to questions. I cannot let that happen!" – stated General Mamuka Kurashvili during a session of the temporary investigative commission examining the activities of the United National Movement government.

Today's commission meeting is focused on the situation in the occupied territories of Georgia between 2004 and 2008 and the August 2008 war. As Mamuka Qurashvili explained, he has also testified as a witness in The Hague on this matter and is ready to answer the commission's questions.

"Madam Tea, you have spent many sleepless nights; you and all the esteemed guests here are familiar with The Hague Tribunal. What makes me different is that I have been interrogated in The Hague as a witness. I am restricted from answering many questions due to confidentiality agreements. I have given numerous testimonies before various commissions, and there are transcripts of them. Seventeen years later, I am ready to answer all questions. I remember things better from the time the war actually happened, and I stand by every word I have said. You can reveal and examine those testimonies. Regarding the period before 2007, I am ready to answer every detail.

I am here today because of the fallen; I have a responsibility to them. I cannot allow the wrong assessment to come from some brainwashed individuals, despite the fact that General Zaza Gogava has already provided a comprehensive answer on this matter. I deeply believe that I do not have the right to refuse to answer questions about the 2008 war because I will not allow anyone to tell the family of a fallen hero that their son was led by an unworthy man who has no answers to questions. I cannot let that happen!" – Kurashvili declared.

The commission’s chair, Tea Tsulukiani, asked him whether, when he returned to the armed forces in 2007 after being discharged, he had received any signals, hints, or military or political intelligence that made him personally think the situation in the occupied territories could escalate into war.

Mamuka Kurashvili responded with a firm "No" and explained that he was not there to provide assessments.

As for his dismissal from the armed forces, Qurashvili stated that he was dismissed twice: first in 2006 and again in 2011. He said that in the first case, he was dismissed by Irakli Okruashvili, and the reason was, as he put it, "Okruashvili resented the fact that I escorted Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili through Tskhinvali."

However, Kurashvili noted that he still does not have a clear answer as to why he was dismissed at that time.

"I still do not have an exact answer to this question. It might be explained by internal backstage intrigues among high-ranking officials. This was related to the confrontation between Merabishvili and Okruashvili. As a military commander, I had no idea what was happening behind the scenes. The minister came, and I escorted him out of Tskhinvali. No one else had passed through there after the Interior Minister. Okruashvili resented this and dismissed me. Yes, he dismissed me. Merabishvili was in the valley at that time. I did not know about their relationship... To this day, I do not know the real reason for my dismissal; I only heard rumors that this was the case," Kurashvili stated.

He added that he returned to the armed forces in 2007 after Davit Kezerashvili was appointed Minister of Defense.