Tensions Escalate between Georgia and Russia

Recent statements and developments regarding the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have further tensed the relationship between Russia and Georgia. Over the past several days the Georgian and Russian authorities have exchanged numerous accusations, provoked mainly by the recent violations of Georgian territorial waters in the section of Abkhazia and by an attack against Russian MP Andrei Kokoshin in South Ossetia.  

On August 5 the Russian State Duma unanimously adopted a special statement regarding “the deterioration of the situation in the Caucasus.”

The Georgian authorities have already responded negatively to the harsh statements made by the Russian State Duma on August 5.

The document pointed out that there exist conditions of unending threats on the part of the Georgian leadership in regards to Russian citizens permanently residing in the territory of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and there are “circumstances that infringe upon the Russian sovereignty.”

“We will never tolerate that foreign vessels, which arrive from Russia, enter the Sukhumi [capital of breakaway Abkhazia] port as if it were one of the ports of Russia,” Nino Burjanadze said at a news briefing on August 5.

President Saakashvili commented on the Russian Duma statement by saying that “as a person, I am insulted by the statement [made by] the Russian MPs, but as a President, I neglect this statement, owing that Russia expects a severe reaction in order to further involve Georgia in an armed confrontation.”

The MPs also stated that the State Duma continues to study the addresses of the Parliaments in the breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions towards the recognition of their right to self-determination.

The State Duma called upon the President and Government of Russia to help normalize the situation in the conflict areas of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and to further guarantee the security of Russian citizens living in these regions.

The Russian MPs note in the statement that the conflict in the territory of Georgia “is swiftly moving towards a large-scale military confrontation in the Caucasus.”

“Because of the Georgian leadership, the Russian Federation may be involved in it. In the event of the development of a military conflict, thousands of Russian citizens residing in the Caucasian region’s republic might be involved,” reads the document.

The irritation of the Russian MPs was aroused by a statement made by the Georgian President on August 3, which vowed to open fire at any foreign vessels that violate the territorial waters of Georgia.  

“We will open fire at all the vessels bound for Abkhazia since they violate the Georgian legislation. This also regards the Russian tourists,” Saakashvili said on August 3.

Mikheil Saakashvili said the vessels will have the right to operate in the territorial waters of Georgia only with the consent of the Georgian authorities.

The Russian Foreign Ministry immediately responded to this statement, raising concern over the official position of Tbilisi.

“The Russian Foreign Ministry warns that any attempts to harm, or moreover, threaten the lives of Russian citizens would be duly repelled”, the statement reads.

However, this legitimate claim by Georgia is in full compliance with the norms of International Maritime Law, an agreement of the Council of Heads of the CIS States of January 19, 1996 and Georgian Presidential Decree N140 of January 31, 1996, under which the Sukhumi sea port, port facilities and sea areas were closed. Abkhazia and its territorial waters come under the jurisdiction of Georgia, recognized by the Russian Federation, thus the Georgian Authorities are authorized to exercise full control over it.

On August 5 the Georgian Foreign Ministry expressed its concern over the information spread on August 4 by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which, according to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, “contains a set of distorted facts” and “unacceptable terms.”

“In particular, the warning issued by the Georgian Authorities regarding the prohibition of movement of vessels within the Sukhumi sea area without the consent of the Georgian Authorities [was] met, for some reason, with an aggressive and inadequate reaction from the side of the Russian Foreign Ministry,” the statement reads.

On August 4 the Georgia Foreign Ministry sent a note of protest to the Russian side concerning works being conducted towards the restoration of sections of the Vesioloe-Sukhumi railway communications and commercial tourist sea voyages in Abkhazia, Georgia.

The note by the Foreign Ministry stated that by resorting to such unilateral acts, the Russian side grossly violates earlier achieved agreements and principles of international law and this, in turn, impedes the normalization of relations between the sovereign states. 

With this aggravated situation between Russia and Georgia serving as a backdrop, the Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, arrived in the capital of breakaway Abkhazia, Sukhumi, on an official two-day visit on August 5. He held talks with de facto Vice-President Valerie Arshba and Prime Minister Raul Khajimba.

“I am an honorary citizen of Georgia. I am an honorary citizen of Tbilisi. So why can’t I arrive in Georgia whenever I want,” Yuri Luzhkov told NTV television on August 5.

The Georgian protested Luzhkov’s visit to Sukhumi. Earlier, on August 5, the State Minister for Conflict Resolutions, Goga Khaindrava, said that the Georgian side was not notified regarding the Mayor’s visit to Sukhumi.