- Moscow kindles panic moods in the Armenian area
- Pogrom of Georgians in Akhalkalaki
- Self-proclaimed republics coordinate their policy
- Russia's special services in Tshinvali area
- Russia's Ministry of Defense to station new brigades on Georgian border
Georgia, which has already gone through many trials because of the two existing separatist formations - South Osetia and Abkhazia, both supported by Moscow, - may have to deal with the emergence of yet another such formation – in Samtskhe-Javakheti, where the majority of population is Armenian.
Samtskhe-Javakheti with a central city of Akhalkalaki, is situated in the south of the country. This area has been taken from Turkey during the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829, and later the Armenians expelled by Turks moved there. Today Armenians make 98 % of population of Samtskhe-Javakheti, and this region turned into some kind of the "state inside the state". The majority of population does not speak Georgian, from total of 68 schools 58 are Armenian, 9 – Russian, and only one is Georgian! Two years ago the only currencies in circulation in Samtskhe-Javakheti were Armenian drama and the Russian ruble. The crisis in the republic was ripening for a long time, but it burst off just now, and this is not a casual occurrence.
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| Samtskhe-Javakheti Armenian local |
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Nationalist moods have started to ripen in Akhalkalaki after creation of the Armenian enclave in Upper Karabakh and victories of the Armenians over the Azerbaijanis. Already at that time the voices demanding to grant the area a cultural autonomy have started to be sounded in Samtskhe-Javakheti. At first, the nationalist movement was of a spontaneous character, but later it began to get support from outside, but not from the Armenian side, as it was possible to assume, but from... Russia. Officials in Yerevan tried to distance themselves as far as possible from the nationalist efforts of their brethren in Akhalkalaki, not wishing to aggravate the relations with Tbilisi. The conflict with Georgia means full isolation and even blockade for Armenia, for the borders with two other neighboring states - Azerbaijan and Turkey - are already blocked.
As for the Kremlin, its attitude towards Samtskhe-Javakheti was and remains the opposite, because Moscow considers this ethnically detached area as the lever to put pressure upon Georgia, and consequently Russia supports political ambitions of local nationalists. At the moment when a withdrawal of the Russian troops from Georgia, and in particular from the base in Akhalkalaki, became inevitable, Russia decided to play the "ace of Armenians".
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David Rstakijan |
Speculating on the fears of the local Armenian population, claiming that after the entry of Georgia to NATO the Turks will come to Samtskhe-Javakheti area, the Russian agents have provoked hysteria in the region. Initial moderate demands to get a cultural autonomy were quickly replaced by demands of a "full autonomy", and even secession from Georgia. The leader of the local nationalist Virki party, David Rstakijan called Russia to keep its military base in the area (otherwise "the Turks will come instead of the Russians") and demanded from Tbilisi to grant a special status to the area.
Fomenting hysteria has led to a sharp splash of anti-Georgian moods and ended with a pogrom. The local residents of Akhalkalaki almost lynched the Georgian students from the Tbilisi University, who arrived for restoration works in the local church. Students and orthodox priests that tried to intercede were severely beaten, and the only Georgian school in Akhalkalaki was destroyed.
The outbreak of nationalism in Samtskhe-Javakheti occurs against the background of Tbilisi's strained relations with South Osetia and Abkhazia. Abkhazia refused to participate in negotiations planned for July, 22 in Tbilisi on the ground that the cargo from the Turkish "Tarik Gulieri" ship, stopped by the Georgian patrol vessel and detained, was not transferred to Abkhazia. This pretext is completely far-fetched, as Georgia expressed readiness to transfer all the cargo to Abkhazia, despite of the fact that according to Mikhail Saakashvili, these goods are subjects to confiscation under the laws of the State. As a result, the "bilateral negotiations'' took place with the special representative of the UN Secretary General, and the representatives of France, Germany, Russia, the Great Britain, and the USA, but... in absence of the Abkhazian representatives!
Like Abkhazia, South Osetia also refuses to negotiate. Leaders of this self-proclaimed republic boycotted the International Conference on peace settlement in Adjaria on July, 10-11, claiming that they were "not invited officially enough".
The Abkhazian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Shamba claims that his republic refuses to discuss "any alternative, except for granting a sovereignty to the republic". South Osetia, in its turn, does not agree on the compromises suggested by Saakashvili, - in particular, to the one, offering a high level of autonomy, creation of a free economic zone in Tskhinvali region and tax privileges. "South Osetia does not demand granting it autonomy in the structure of the "united Georgia"", - the official statement of the leadership of the republic reads.
The last month did not bring any mitigation in Georgian-Osetian confrontation. After a series of armed incidents in May - June, and the Head of North Osetia, Taimuraz Mamsurov's appeals for uniting "two Osetias" and deliveries of the Russian ammunition under the cover of humanitarian aid, the situation is still in crisis. Herein, the leaders of North Osetia only sound Moscow's position, as they are no more than the Kremlin's appointees. This became obvious once again, when the citizen of Russia, Jury Morozov was appointed the Prime Minister of North Osetia.
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| Russian Military Base, Akhalkalaki |
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The Russian pressure on Georgia is getting more and more aggressive, developing simultaneously in several directions. The first one, as it was already said above, is the instigation of its satellites, Abkhazia and South Osetia, to continue and widen the conflict with Georgia. And it is known that the attempts are being made to create a bloc of self-proclaimed republics (Abkhazia, South Osetia, Transdnestria, and Upper Karabakh) to coordinate their actions. The Abkhazian leader Sergey Bagapsh is going to summon the "Summit of four" in the nearest future. The two subjects of this "bloc" - Abkhazia and South Osetia - are situated in the territory of Georgia.
The second direction is the economic pressure, in particular, the planned price rise on the gas delivered to this republic. The Prime Mminister of Russia Michael Fradkov is now examining this initiative suggested by the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
The third direction is a "demonstration of muscles". Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Ivanov declared formation of two mountain brigades which will be stationed on the Russian - Georgian border in Karachaevo - Cherkessia and Daghestan. Yet another form of chantage is the 'leakage' of information to mass media, allegedly from the 'anonymous' Russian secret serviceman, about a special group of approximately 200-300 of the GRU and FSB men ''working'' in Tshinvali area.
However, the greatest peril for Georgia is the fourth direction of pressure, which is the Russian secret services' work on creation of one more "independent" enclave in Samtskhe-Javakheti area. If these efforts succeed, it may definitely split the republic, surrounding it with a circuit semi-feudal puppet formations, and actually depriving it of any sovereignty.
Related items:
Russian Intelligence Against the Ukrainian and the Georgian Leaders
The Kremlin Versus Sovereign Georgia
Disposition Before the Battle
Russian security services (Full coverage)
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