Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI2476
2007-10-04 11:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:
MILITARY LEADERS SAY THEY WILL NOT SUPPORT
how-toVZCZCXRO6647 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSI #2476 2771152 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 041152Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7825 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002476
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINS MARR GG
SUBJECT: MILITARY LEADERS SAY THEY WILL NOT SUPPORT
OKRUASHVILI AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft, reason 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002476
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINS MARR GG
SUBJECT: MILITARY LEADERS SAY THEY WILL NOT SUPPORT
OKRUASHVILI AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft, reason 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) On October 3, Embassy's Defense Attache spoke with
senior, high ranking members of the Georgian Army leadership
regarding their views on the political confrontation between
former Minister of Defense Irakli Okruashvili and the
Georgian Government led by President Saakashvili. These
military officers said that any lingering support among the
military for Okruashvili is based only on political
sympathies, not on his personality, which they consider
difficult. They claim to be well aware of Okruashvili's
involvement in corruption with regard to military
procurement, which they did not find unusual based on their
experience in the Soviet military. Therefore, they do not
regard the government's charges against Okruashvili as
"trumped up" for political purposes -- even though they
consider Okruashvili to be less corrupt than his predecessor.
They said Okruashvili fired many Army officers when he took
over the Ministry, and did not endear himself in doing so.
Most of his close associates, including Levan Nikolaishili,
former First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the
General Staff, have left the Ministry since Okruashvili
departed in 2006.
2. (C) The officers to whom DATT spoke assured him that no
one in the military would take up arms against the government
for Okruashivili, despite his former association with the
MOD. They insisted that in the culture of the Georgian
military, loyalty to the state prevails over any loyalties to
an individual.
TEFFT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINS MARR GG
SUBJECT: MILITARY LEADERS SAY THEY WILL NOT SUPPORT
OKRUASHVILI AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft, reason 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) On October 3, Embassy's Defense Attache spoke with
senior, high ranking members of the Georgian Army leadership
regarding their views on the political confrontation between
former Minister of Defense Irakli Okruashvili and the
Georgian Government led by President Saakashvili. These
military officers said that any lingering support among the
military for Okruashvili is based only on political
sympathies, not on his personality, which they consider
difficult. They claim to be well aware of Okruashvili's
involvement in corruption with regard to military
procurement, which they did not find unusual based on their
experience in the Soviet military. Therefore, they do not
regard the government's charges against Okruashvili as
"trumped up" for political purposes -- even though they
consider Okruashvili to be less corrupt than his predecessor.
They said Okruashvili fired many Army officers when he took
over the Ministry, and did not endear himself in doing so.
Most of his close associates, including Levan Nikolaishili,
former First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the
General Staff, have left the Ministry since Okruashvili
departed in 2006.
2. (C) The officers to whom DATT spoke assured him that no
one in the military would take up arms against the government
for Okruashivili, despite his former association with the
MOD. They insisted that in the culture of the Georgian
military, loyalty to the state prevails over any loyalties to
an individual.
TEFFT