Jaba Devdariani and Wojciech Bartuzi
The threat of separatist fighting is looming again over Georgia. In an attempt to compel Ajaria’s submission to central government authority, President Mikheil Saakashvili has imposed an economic blockade on the renegade region. Meanwhile, Ajarian leader Aslan Abashidze has accused Tbilisi of trying to stage a coup in Batumi, and has appealed for Russian support.
Saakashvili and Abashidze have clashed on the question of the central government’s authority in Ajaria since November, when protesters forced the resignation of former Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Over the weekend of March 13-14, a rapid escalation of tension pushed Georgia to the brink of armed conflict.
Georgian president says blood needs to be spilt to regain breakaway regions
Excerpt from report by Georgian Imedi TV on 7 March
[Presenter] Georgians will again have to accept sacrifices and spill blood in order to regain lost territories. Speaking at a meeting commemorating the 60th birthday anniversary of a national hero [Zhiuli Shartava, Tbilisi-backed prime minister of Abkhazia executed by separatists in 1993], [Georgian President] Mikheil Saakashvili pledged to make Abkhazia and Samachablo [South Ossetia] part of Georgia again. [Passage omitted]
[Saakashvili, addressing meeting] What is there to hide? Our country will require self-sacrifice, our country will have to accept causalities, and our final victory will require Georgian blood.
The main aim of my life is to finish the job he [Shartava] started, which is to regain Abkhazia. However, before we achieve this aim, we should first establish full control over the rest of Georgian territory.
Georgia Province Rebuffs Nation’s Demands
Speaking on Georgian television late Sunday from Poti, a port city near the Adzharian border, Saakashvili issued a one-day ultimatum to Abashidze to accept Tbilisi’s authority and start disarming his paramilitary forces.
Saakashvili held an emergency government meeting Monday as the hours ticked toward the 2:30 p.m. EST deadline. Though Saakashvili hasn’t said what he will do if the deadline is ignored, immediate head-on action appeared unlikely.
Saakashvili said that air, land and sea routes to Adzharia would be closed and the government would also move to freeze foreign bank accounts belonging to Adzharian officials. Both men said they were ready for dialogue, but tensions persisted.
Saakashvili warns Russian troops against interference in affairs
Before flying to Yerevan, President [Mikheil] Saakashvili said once again that the attention to Ajaria would not be lessened.
Saakashvili commented on today’s reports that the transfer of Russian servicemen to Ajaria was continuing. It has been reported that 79 new recruits were transferred to Batumi from the Armenian town of Gyumri this morning. The servicemen were brought there by a special train. The Russian side has been carrying out a rotation of its servicemen at the military base in Ajaria for a month.
[Saakashvili, speaking to journalists at Tbilisi airport. Video starts in mid-sentence] – they want to divert attention from Ajaria.
We will respond to the extremists in Tbilisi and we will detain those who violate human rights in Batumi as well. Their hope that we will give up Ajaria are in vain. This will not happen.
[Russian] bases is a separate issue. I constantly raise the issue of bases at all levels. However, whatever forces they bring in, or take out, let nobody have a hope that those forces will intervene in Georgia’s domestic affairs. And may God forbid anyone to intervene [in Georgia’s domestic affairs] without the Russian president’s knowledge. They will receive such an answer that they will never be able to stand on their feet again. We are no longer the Georgia of 1992. I do not advise [changes tack] – I am ready to stand in front of any tank for Georgia.