Georgian oppositionist Bidzina Ivanishvili, whose party "Georgian Dream" won the parliamentary elections, said the 2008 war was provoked by Georgia, reports Interfax.

"This was a big provocation planned by your commander and you [Saakashvili]. This was given in Tagliavini's statement [Heidi Tagliavini - Head of International Commission of Inquiry on finding the hostilities in August 2008 - Interfax]. All Europeans and Americans recognise this. These processes could not have happened if we had normal leadership," Ivanishvili said.

At the same time, Ivanishvili, who is the future Prime Minister of Georgia, said that Russia's wish to "travel through the Caucasian ridge," which they have been unable to do for centuries, could become a reality because of Saakashvili. According to him, the previous government brought the issue with Russia to a dead end.

"I cannot promise that relations with Russia will improve tomorrow or the day after. We do not have a specific plan as to when it can happen, but by doing the right things, having good behavior and by being diplomactic, we may soon recover our territory when our interests coincide with the interests of Russia on some future global issues," said Ivanishvili.

After the "five-day war" in August 2008, Russia recognized the independence of the former Georgian autonomies of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Tbilisi declared Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be occupied territories and broke off diplomatic relations with Russia.