Georgian Power Ministers Back Russia’s Provocation

The Dilis Gazeti; The Akhali Taoba; The Resonance

Existing condition in the country was discussed in the Parliament yesterday. “The Parliament session went on most critically and acutely that day. The power ministers were to explain everything to the legislative branch”, the Dilis Gazeti says. It has been officially admitted that Chechens are in Abkhazia at present. The newspaper talks about two ways of getting there. According to the first way, Chechen guerrillas came to Abkhazia through north Caucasus. According to the second way, Georgian side has assisted the group in moving to Abkhazia through the territory of Georgia.

Following the constitution any kind of militant movement should be agreed with the President, the Dilis Gazeti states. Violating the constitution may be used as an argument for impeaching a Minister as well as the President. Thus, in case Chechens have in deed passed through the territory of Georgia somebody is to be responsible for it.

“Georgia is in the condition of war nowadays. It is thought that it may be involved in the Chechnya war. Russia may move the military operations to the territory of Georgia for implementing its provocative intentions”, the Akhali Taoba presumes. There is a danger that Georgia may find itself under Russian sphere of influence and Georgian state officials will be to blame then, the newspaper says.  

“Feebleness of Georgian government led us to the fact that peace in the country is up to Putin’s kindness”, the Resonance states.

The newspaper points at an interesting issue. It claims information disseminated by Sokhumi and Tbilisi have coincided with each and the position of Sokhumi has opposed that of Moscow for the first time during eight years (the time period when Georgian jurisdiction is not spread in Abkhazia). Governments of Ardzinba (president of self-declared Abkhazian republic) and Shevardnadze denied the idea of Georgian partisans being in Abkhazia yesterday. According to Russian press though, Georgians had also fought together with Chechens.

“Why does Russia claim the information Abkhaz separatists deny? Experts think that creating a provocative situation in Abkhazia is in the interests of Russia that is why the information it disseminates is not right and naturally does not coincide with that of others”, the Resonance states. The newspaper considers that Georgian power ministers support the provocation.