The Georgian leadership's statements regarding the need for reconciliation with the Abkhazians and South Ossetians are being heard, - reads the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry, which the agency disseminates in connection with the August 2008 war.

“Today marks 18 years since the tragic events in the South Caucasus. On the night of August 7-8, 2008, the Saakashvili regime, in violation of all international agreements on the peaceful settlement of the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict, carried out a treacherous aggression against South Ossetia, which resulted in numerous casualties among the civilian population and Russian peacekeepers. The unprovoked nature of the Georgian attack was later officially confirmed, in particular, in the report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia, led by Swiss diplomat Tagliavini, established under the auspices of the European Union,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said “the Russian side is ready to provide comprehensive assistance to the negotiation process between the parties and contribute to building confidence.”

"Moscow notes the attempts in Georgian society to reconsider the events of August 2008. At the same time, the recognition of the full responsibility of the Saakashvili regime for the outbreak of the armed conflict is justified. Statements by the Georgian leadership regarding the need for reconciliation with the Abkhazians and South Ossetians are being heard, which gives hope that the aforementioned transformation of the approach will not remain at the level of statements alone and will be reinforced by concrete practical actions aimed at resolving relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia," the Russian Foreign Ministry states.