Russian Foreign Ministry on Borjomi Forest fire

Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented “the allegations of some politicians and media sources,” on possible Russian involvement in igniting the Borjomi forest fire, which flared up on August 20 near village Daba and devastated reportedly around 100 hectares of woodland.

Senior Georgian Dream lawmaker and Deputy Parliamentary Chairman Giorgi Volski told the Rustavi 2 TV on August 24 that intense fires in the country “coincided” with “the arrangement of the so-called anti-fire ditches” along the occupation line across Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, referring to the “restoration of the anti-fire line” by the region’s Russian-backed authorities in the area of village Artsevi (Tskhinvali plans to carry out similar works in the areas of Orchosani and Tsinagari villages in September).

“This is a fact that this happened, the so-called anti-fire ditches were arranged and it coincided [with the forest fires], but I would like to reiterate that we do not need to make premature conclusions and we need to keep calm in the spirit of [our] overall strategy and policy, unlike some people who are trying to deliberately exacerbate the situation,” Volski said.

Responding to the journalist’s query on the possibility of Russian involvement, Volski stated that “every version should be considered, there might be internal factors at play, or it might be preconditioned by external factors, there are plenty of reasons to think so, there are evidences found that make us think that it was intentionally done, but I would like to reiterate that [only] authorized persons should speak of this.”

Maria Zakharova, who responded to the statement on August 25, said the Russian side would not comment on “the unhealthy fantasies of those who look at natural disasters in their own country as just another opportunity to spread anti-Russian rhetoric.” 

Zakharova also stated that despite “a lot of pressure on Russian emergency workers all over the region” (in Russia and in Armenia), Moscow “immediately responded to the request of Tbilisi to help them fight fires in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.”

The spokesperson added that Il-76 firefighting aircraft was allocated for this purpose, but the Georgian side “thanked us some time later and informed us that the fire was contained, and they did not need our help.” “We sincerely hope that our neighbors are able to extinguish fires as soon as possible,” she also noted.
Georgia’s Regional Development Minister Zurab Alavidze denied that Tbilisi reached out to Moscow directly, saying the request was made through the United Nations, which communicated several countries on the matter.

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili spoke on Russia’s offer of assistance on August 24, saying that the proposal “needs to be welcomed.” The Prime Minister, however, did not elaborate on Tbilisi’s refusal to take up the offer. 

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)