Concerning the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia, Chiesa stated that "Russia did precisely what had to be done." He added "I think Europe is partly responsible for this war, by unconditionally supporting Georgia’s president Mikheil Saakashvili and his claims on South Ossetia and Abkhazia." Regarding media coverage of the war, Chiesa declared that "the information given by the media is shameful for the West. Western news channels broadcast images and headlines that were politically biased. Some of them claimed that Russia wanted to conquer Georgia, although no evidence whatsoever backed up that argument. Mikheil Saakashvili was portrayed as the unfortunate victim of Big Bad Putin and very often images of Tskhinvali razed by bombs were not shown. It is the worst coverage I have ever seen since the war in Iraq."