Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI2545
2007-10-09 11:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:
DEMARCHE ON RELEASE OF SOUTH OSSETIAN PEACEKEEPERS
how-toVZCZCXRO4455 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSI #2545 2821153 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091153Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7872 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4593
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002545
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR A/S DAN FRIED AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PREL GG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON RELEASE OF SOUTH OSSETIAN PEACEKEEPERS
AND ABKHAZ SOLDIERS DELIVERED
REF: STATE 141292
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 002545
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR A/S DAN FRIED AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PREL GG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON RELEASE OF SOUTH OSSETIAN PEACEKEEPERS
AND ABKHAZ SOLDIERS DELIVERED
REF: STATE 141292
Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft, reason 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) On October 7 the Ambassador delivered reftel demarche
to Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili. The
Ambassador recommended that the Georgians release the two
Ossetians and the seven Abkhaz they are holding after
separate incidents in September. Bezhuashvili said he had
already recommended the release to President Saakashvili.
The Ambassador familiarized Bezhuashvili with the arguments
for release contained in reftel, and stressed the importance
of releasing the prisoners as soon as possible.
2. (C) On October 8, the Ambassador raised the issue of the
prisoners with President Saakashvili. Saakashvili said that
the GOG is working toward release of the seven Abkhaz men.
However, he was reluctant to promise the release of the South
Ossetians, whom he described as "killers". He fears that if
released, they will go back and start fighting Georgians
again.
3. (C) Later on October 8, Bezhuashvili informed the
Ambassador that the Russian government had by that time been
told that the Abkhaz will be released, after some remaining
legal issues have been resolved. However, Bezhuashvili said
Georgia still regards the South Ossetians as Georgian
citizens, and as such, the GOG has jursidiction and may
properly hold them in custody and try them for their alleged
crimes. The GOR argues they are Russian citizens. The
Georgians believe they must continue the prosecution of the
South Ossetinas to support their position that they are
Georgian citizens subject to Georgian law.
4. (C) The Abkhaz remain in custody as of the afternoon of
October 9 and we have no further information about when they
may be released.
TEFFT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR A/S DAN FRIED AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PREL GG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON RELEASE OF SOUTH OSSETIAN PEACEKEEPERS
AND ABKHAZ SOLDIERS DELIVERED
REF: STATE 141292
Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft, reason 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) On October 7 the Ambassador delivered reftel demarche
to Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili. The
Ambassador recommended that the Georgians release the two
Ossetians and the seven Abkhaz they are holding after
separate incidents in September. Bezhuashvili said he had
already recommended the release to President Saakashvili.
The Ambassador familiarized Bezhuashvili with the arguments
for release contained in reftel, and stressed the importance
of releasing the prisoners as soon as possible.
2. (C) On October 8, the Ambassador raised the issue of the
prisoners with President Saakashvili. Saakashvili said that
the GOG is working toward release of the seven Abkhaz men.
However, he was reluctant to promise the release of the South
Ossetians, whom he described as "killers". He fears that if
released, they will go back and start fighting Georgians
again.
3. (C) Later on October 8, Bezhuashvili informed the
Ambassador that the Russian government had by that time been
told that the Abkhaz will be released, after some remaining
legal issues have been resolved. However, Bezhuashvili said
Georgia still regards the South Ossetians as Georgian
citizens, and as such, the GOG has jursidiction and may
properly hold them in custody and try them for their alleged
crimes. The GOR argues they are Russian citizens. The
Georgians believe they must continue the prosecution of the
South Ossetinas to support their position that they are
Georgian citizens subject to Georgian law.
4. (C) The Abkhaz remain in custody as of the afternoon of
October 9 and we have no further information about when they
may be released.
TEFFT