No proof of Russia’s hand in Georgian mutiny – The Times
Published: 06 May, 2009, 13:00
Georgian police Armoured Personnel Carriers move in convoy along a road outside Tbilisi (AFP Photo / Vano Shlamov)
TAGS: Conflict, Georgia, Politics
Despite accusations by Georgian officials that Russian secret services were involved in Tuesday's mutiny and alleged coup attempt, there is no firm evidence of it, according to a report in The Times.
The British newspaper cites sources close to President Saakashvili as saying that Georgia has dropped its claims that rebellious officers and ex-military took money from Moscow.
On Tuesday, the Georgian Interior Ministry reported that it had unearthed a plan to overthrow the government plotted by several former high-ranking military.
The news was followed by a several-hour stand-off between police forces and an armored battalion stationed near Tbilisi that refused to take orders from Defence Ministry officials. It ended peacefully after negotiations between Mikhail Saakashvili and the mutineers.
The Georgian opposition, who has been holding mass rallies in the country since April 9, said they believe the events were staged by the government.
Elaborating on his analysis of the situation, Times author Tony Halpin says: “Yesterday’s events have shown that Georgia remains much more fragile than Mr Saakashvili and his team would like to admit. Political divisions are normal in a democracy, but splits within the military are a recipe for disaster in a country with Georgia’s recent history.”
06.05.2009, 00:30
2 comments
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06.05.2009, 14:11
5 comments
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well, georgia is known for using west press to try to put russia in bad light, nothing new here, ...remember the polish president got almost killed when visiting georgia in a support trip.. sakashvili thought scaring the dude with his bodyguards might be useful to present russia as a bully.. the polish president didn't see it funny, not one bit! A dictator supported by the west.. nothing new, .. russia closing its eyes and believing it could be an equal partner to NATO-Third Reich nothing new.. hopefully it will not turn into a disaster known as Barbarossa ! ! ! Russia doesn't belong to the European hemisphere no matter how much they try.. they are to big, to powerful-resource wise to be accepted by the hungry EU, USA.. it is time to reverse the politics of failure, and turn 180 moscow, head EAST where future is coming from.. pipeline your country to china, japan.. say no more..
Equally, The Times did not report any proof that Russia's hand was not involved in the Georgian mutiny. But as the mutiny happened just before the long-planned NATO exercises about which Russia has certain opinions, if those exercises were cancelled as a result, what a co-incidence that would be? As it is, the exercises have commenced as planned.
As an American, it's a little odd that all of this has happened right before the NATO exercises but without any credible sources no one can point the blame at Russia. Georgia has been unstable ever since it's independence in the early 90s, and its being pulled in two directions, choose to stay close to Russia or to ally itself with more foreign countries (United States). I would think many in Russia believe they should rightfully have a "sphere of influence" over Georgia due to its proximity so its not a surprise why they would be concerned that U.S. is so close to its own borders.