Georgian MPs consider kidnapping of teenagers as Russian provocation

Georgian lawmakers assess kidnapping of the four Georgian teenagers by the Russian occupants from the village of Tirdznisi, Gori district as another Russian provocation for causing disturbances in Georgia. They say, the government should keep on cooperation with the international society in order to prevent another aggression from Russia. As for the parliamentary opposition, it demands that the issue be raised at the session of the Security Council and drawing out mechanisms for protection of citizens. `They use children for provocations. They want to strain the situation in the region even more, escalate the not quite friendly relationships`, Petre Tsiskarishvili, the chair of the United National Movement parliamentary faction said.

TV station of Tskhinvali regime reports on abducted Georgian teenagers

TV station of the Tskhinvali marionette regime has reported about the four Georgian teenagers abducted by Russian militants from the village of Tirdznisi, Gori district. The Ossetian media report, the teenagers were detained in the village of Prisi of the occupied territory. Prosecutors of the Kokoity regime assert, one of the detainees, Giorgi Romelashvili, used to have intense contact with his native village of Kheiti in 5 kilometres from Tskhinvali. According to their accusation, Romelashvili had even committed robbery there. The Interior Ministry of the marionette regime has filed a suit against the kidnapped teenagers. The four boys have been accused of illegal crossing of the so-called state boundary and keeping and carrying of firearms and explosive materials. Representatives of the Kokoity regime say the provocation has been planned by the Georgian government.

Two Georgian citizens detained in Russia

Two Georgian citizens have been detained in Russia. The Georgian Foreign Ministry reports, the detainees have been accused of violating the visa regime. The Georgian citizens have been in the isolator of pre-trial detention in the city of Arkhangelsk for six months. Georgian diplomats say, their extradition has been impeded due to obscure reasons. Reportedly, the Georgian citizens are in unbearable conditions in Arkhangelsk, they are being physically oppressed.

27 ambassadors from EU to arrive in Georgia

Ambassadors of the 27 EU member states will arrive in Georgia on November 12-14. Ambassadors will meet with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, members of the government and the Georgian Parliament within the visit. The delegation of the EU ambassadors will visit the occupied regions, meet with the local population and observe the operation of the EU monitoring mission in the regions. This is the first case when ambassadors of all EU member states visit Georgia together. `The ambassadors will observe the work of the EU monitoring mission in Georgia in order to work on the further action plan. The visit is very significant, because it demonstrates great support to Georgia,` Georgia`s envoy to the EU Salome Samdashvili has said in a telephone interview with Rustavi2.

EU warns Belarus over recognition of separatists

Possible recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Belarus would contradict the spirit of cooperation and would unlikely to facilitate it in the framework of Eastern Partnership policy. It has been stated by Hans-Dieter Lukas, special envoy of the German Foreign Ministry for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus in his speech at 12th Minsk Forum on November 5. A representative of the Foreign Ministry of Germany called the position of the EU on this issue “clear”, as independence of these regions haven’t been recognized by any country of the European Union, or by any country partner of the EU New policy. In his turn, Stefan Eriksson, Ambassador of Sweden which is presiding in the European Union, called the position of Minsk that still hasn’t recognized independence of the breakaway republics `wise`. The diplomat noted that it is a right of Belarus to adopt any decision on this issue.

Senators send letter to US envoy in UN

US Senators, Richard Lugar and John Kerry have sent a letter to the Representative of the United States to the United Nations Susan E. Rice, in which they urge the envoy to actively support efforts at the United Nations that `reaffirm international standards of sovereignty, territorial integrity and human rights as related to Georgia and resist attempts to subvert these principles`. `It seems clear that the Russian Federation is pursuing a variety of strategies to consolidate its position within occupied Georgia and acquire veneer credibility for its actions under international law. It is in everyone`s interest that the question of Georgia`s occupation and sovereignty remains in the diplomatic rather than the military sphere. If the international community fails to address the problem within the United Nations and other international institutions, we run the risk that the problem may again slip from diplomacy to conflict. While we support the ongoing construction of cooperative relations with Russia, it is also important that we maintain our commitment to Georgia,` the letter says.

Abkhazian legal government assists IDPs

Abkhazian legal government has organized a humanitarian action for the IDPs residing in Tbilisi`s district of Chughureti. Free medical service will be available for over 500 refugees during the next two days.
The team of doctors will offer medical examination to the IDPs at their places. The head of the Abkhazian legal government met with the IDPs housed in the #53 Agtveli Street and handed over humanitarian aid to them.

Tbilisi ready to discuss opening of border exit point with Russia

Georgian Foreign Ministry expresses readiness to undertake talks on opening of the Zemo Larsi exit-point with Russia. Representatives of the ministry say, earlier Moscow was not ready to answer Tbilisi at several certain questions regarding the issue, although the situation has changed. Furthermore, opening of the checkpoint will cause no additional harm to Georgia. Tbilisi is ready to solve the problem, because the decision is crucial for Armenia as well. The Russian side has to appoint its own representative at the future talks in order to achieve an agreement.

The New York Times About Russia’s Warns of New Georgia War

The New York Times writes about Russia’s warns of new Georgia war with headline: ‘Russia spy chief warns of new Georgia War’. According to the article, ‘Russian military intelligence believes Georgia might again attack South Ossetia’. Alexander Shlyakhturov, who in April took over command of the military’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), said the situation was strained and accused NATO countries of continuing to supply arms to Georgia. ‘The situation with Georgia remains tense because the current Georgian authorities do not just refuse to recognise the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but are trying in every way to return these countries…to their jurisdiction,’ he said in a rare interview with state news agency ITAR-TASS.
‘You have to add to this the unpredictability of attempts by the Georgian leadership, headed by (President Mikheil) Saakashvili, which may give in to temptation to use force to tame these obstinate republics as they did last year,” he said. ‘We do not rule out such a development,’ said Shlyakhturov, who controls Russia’s biggest spy agency with agents across the globe and thousands of special forces troops inside Russia.
GRU chiefs rarely speak to the media. Thursday’s interview was given to mark 91 years since the spy service was created in 1918 by revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky – the article reads.