The leader of the governing party said the country should apologize for a conflict for which many Georgians blame Moscow, heightening a monthslong political battle.

The de facto leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party stunned Georgians — who are rarely shocked by the turbulent political situation in the country — by declaring that Georgia should "apologize" for Russia's 2008 war against the country.

Georgia's most powerful man, Bidzina Ivanishvili, suggested that the South Caucasus country could apologise to Ossetians for the 2008 war with Russia that led to Moscow recognising two rebel Georgian regions,

By Tornike Mandaria in Tbilisi Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party, declared that the country must apologise for the actions of the previous United National Movement (UNM) government during the 2008 Russo-Georgian war.