Sarkozy: Tbilisi’s Attack Mistake; Russia’s Response Disproportionate

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on October 8 that Georgia’s attack on Tskhinvali was “a mistake,” but added that Russia’s response was “not proportionate.” Sarkozy also criticized Russia’s unilateral recognition of breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Giga Bokeria, the Georgian deputy foreign minister, while welcomed the condemnation of Russia’s recognition, said assessing Georgia’s move as “a mistake” was “not correct.”

“Such a formulation – that it was a mistake – made no matter by whom is not correct and any investigation can prove that,” Bokeria said, adding that Georgia had no alternative in the situation that was created in the region in early August.

Georgia says it acted in self-defense to repel a Russian incursion, which Tbilisi claims took place at least 20 hours before it undertook military actions in the breakaway region.

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