Disclosure of the conclusion of the EU commission on the causes and circumstances of the war in August 2008 significantly increased resistance between the oppositional forces and the president’s team. Although the authorities are trying to interpret the provisions of the report, which was laboriously prepared for 9 months, in their own way, the main conclusion is final and indisputable: the war was launched by Georgia. Nevertheless, Mikhail Saakashvili considered it necessary to state during the propaganda activities that he did not regret what had happened and would do the same, if necessary.
Those PR campaigns arranged with the aim of live broadcasting are organized in a ridiculously naive and primitive manner: several rows of chairs are put in open air, pre-designated people representing the «public» are sitting on them and the president is explaining to them what the whole country should firmly grasp. However, this style, so usual for the ruling team, is not the most surprising thing for the TV audience. The main thing is inexpedient belief in their own righteousness against the background of findings, made by the European diplomats and experts.
A few days ago the President of Georgia has surprised even a BBC correspondent. The latter was told that the assault on Tskhinval was justified since this town represented a «well-fortified military camp», even though this assault triggered off the armed conflict with Russia. This statement is in obvious contradiction with the conclusions of the commission of Heidi Tagliavini. Besides, ignoring the provisions of the report, the President made it clear that he sees no need for an international investigation of those «possible crimes», commission of which by the Georgian army he could not completely eliminate. And he sees no need because, as he said, «all the proceedings have already been conducted in Georgia».
The main findings of the EU commission (please note) are that the assault of Tskhinval on the night of August 8 has no justification under international law, and the version voiced by the Georgian side more than once, the President himself including, saying that the Russian troops entered South Ossetia on August 7, was not confirmed. Russia, which was previously criticized for its «disproportionate response», appears in the report almost in the same capacity.
As the opposition forces declare, the most worrying thing in the reaction of the President is that despite anything Mr. Saakashvili is not going to draw lessons from what happened and adjust the orientation of his political ambitions and actions. «Conclusion of EU Commission showed that Georgia is governed by an inept and irresponsible leadership that represents a threat to the country and the region as a whole, and if to leave these conclusions without any response, a disaster will be inevitable for Georgia», - leader of the party «Democratic Movement - for United Georgia» Nino Burjanadze said at a press briefing.
She focuses public attention on the fact that the document published by the European Union names the massive bombardment of Tskhinval, which resulted in numerous casualties among civilians and Russian peacekeepers, as the cause of war. «This gave reason for the invasion of Russia's regular army units into the territory of Georgia», - the ex-Speaker of Parliament stressed. Burjanadze believes that among other reasons Saakashvili is guilty because he was aware of everything going on in the Georgian-Russian relations, and had not made any conclusions. He was also aware of the personal prevention of Vladimir Putin, according to which, Russia would commit its army in response to a shot from Georgia. But the President believed the words of people from his entourage, who had repeatedly received evidence that Saakashvili was «glad to be deceived». According to Burjanadze, they inspired him that «Russia’s tanks are rusty, and therefore South Ossetia can be seized in one night».
«The authorities are trying to hide truth from the people, the truth which is contained in the conclusion of the EU Commission, but these attempts are vain, because the world's mass media is accusing Georgia of unleashing the war. Accordingly, no matter what the authorities say, it remains a fact that: the war in August last year is a huge tragic and irretrievable mistake of Saakashvili. And I think that he must answer for it» - such is the unequivocal position of Nino Burjanadze, who urged the opposition to unite into a common front.
In what way exactly the President «must answer» is stated in the comment of Secretary of the Labor Party Nestan Kirtadze. «Saakashvili is exposed of having committed a war crime, and therefore, along with his military and political environment, he must be brought before the International Tribunal in The Hague», - she insists.
Justifying himself and repulsing the attacks of political opponents, Saakashvili claims that Russia was the first to invade, and during the shelling from Georgian shells none of the women and children perished. Such «arguments» arouse indignation of the opposition, which is impatient to get rid of the leader, in whose hands, as they said, Georgia will be lost once and for all. |
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