Russia delaying pullout
By M. Alkhazashvili
Tuesday, August 19
In spite of the fact that a ceasefire agreement has been signed and Russia has made a commitment to pull its armed forces out of Georgia it is still delaying this process. Moreover, on the very day Russia signed the agreement its soldiers blew up a railway bridge near Kaspi, 50 kilometers from the conflict zone.
Russian tanks and armoured vehicles are still driving around, well away from the conflict zone, and Russian soldiers are looting, setting fire to buildings and demoralizing the population. Thus Moscow is trying to destroy Georgia’s infrastructure, create an uncontrollable situation and eventually trigger an anti-government reaction in the people.
One of the major incentives for the Kremlin to undertake its Georgian adventure was the possibility of changing the administration here. Russian foreign Minister Lavrov openly confirmed that in his conversation with his counterpart from Finland.
Indeed Igor Giorgadze, a Soviet KGB General who is wanted in Georgia because he plotted President Shevardnadze’s assassination in 1995 when State Security Minister of Georgia, was also reactivated as a Moscow agent for this purpose. On August 12 Ekho Moskvi radio informed its listeners that according to some sources Igor Giorgadze was already in Gali waiting for the right moment to enter Georgia mounted on a Russian tank. Following questions from the Georgian population however this was denied by the Abkhaz side.
But before deciding who will be Georgia’s leader, the existing government first has to be removed. This is the main reason Moscow delays its withdrawal. It is trying its best to foment dissatisfaction in the population.
Georgian analysts speculate about the problems the Russian occupation has already created and what the present situation could develop into. The country is split in two by the tank blockade, there is no transport link, or rather a very bad one, between Eastern and Western Georgia. This could create a food shortage in the capital and cause panic and chaos.
So far Georgia heroically resists. Its population has not been trapped by the Russian-designed provocation. But the danger is clear - the Kremlin wants to force Georgia to surrender politically.
Russian armed units move around the country and do everything they can to stir up trouble.
They want to provoke Georgians to respond so that they have reason to either prolong or expand their presence in Georgia and bring it to a higher level.
The Georgian people are ready to stand up for their country and keep calm, but the international community, which hopefully has now seen the real face of the Russian aggressor, has to press upon Russia to pull out faster.
Russian tanks and armoured vehicles are still driving around, well away from the conflict zone, and Russian soldiers are looting, setting fire to buildings and demoralizing the population. Thus Moscow is trying to destroy Georgia’s infrastructure, create an uncontrollable situation and eventually trigger an anti-government reaction in the people.
One of the major incentives for the Kremlin to undertake its Georgian adventure was the possibility of changing the administration here. Russian foreign Minister Lavrov openly confirmed that in his conversation with his counterpart from Finland.
Indeed Igor Giorgadze, a Soviet KGB General who is wanted in Georgia because he plotted President Shevardnadze’s assassination in 1995 when State Security Minister of Georgia, was also reactivated as a Moscow agent for this purpose. On August 12 Ekho Moskvi radio informed its listeners that according to some sources Igor Giorgadze was already in Gali waiting for the right moment to enter Georgia mounted on a Russian tank. Following questions from the Georgian population however this was denied by the Abkhaz side.
But before deciding who will be Georgia’s leader, the existing government first has to be removed. This is the main reason Moscow delays its withdrawal. It is trying its best to foment dissatisfaction in the population.
Georgian analysts speculate about the problems the Russian occupation has already created and what the present situation could develop into. The country is split in two by the tank blockade, there is no transport link, or rather a very bad one, between Eastern and Western Georgia. This could create a food shortage in the capital and cause panic and chaos.
So far Georgia heroically resists. Its population has not been trapped by the Russian-designed provocation. But the danger is clear - the Kremlin wants to force Georgia to surrender politically.
Russian armed units move around the country and do everything they can to stir up trouble.
They want to provoke Georgians to respond so that they have reason to either prolong or expand their presence in Georgia and bring it to a higher level.
The Georgian people are ready to stand up for their country and keep calm, but the international community, which hopefully has now seen the real face of the Russian aggressor, has to press upon Russia to pull out faster.