Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MOSCOW604
2008-03-03 16:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
GOR ON GEORGIAN JOURNALISTS DETAINED IN ABKHAZIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ1807 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHMO #0604 0631603 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031603Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6997 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000604
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: GOR ON GEORGIAN JOURNALISTS DETAINED IN ABKHAZIA
REF: MOSCOW 566
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4 (B/D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000604
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: GOR ON GEORGIAN JOURNALISTS DETAINED IN ABKHAZIA
REF: MOSCOW 566
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) In a March 3 conversation, GOR Special Envoy to the
Abkhazia conflict Vladislav Chernov took on board our request
that Russia communicate to the Abkhaz leadership the need for
restraint and speedy release of the Georgian journalists
detained in Abkhazia, and welcomed U.S. efforts to lower
Saakashvili's rhetoric. He told us that through
working-level contacts, the GOR received a promise from the
Abkhaz that the journalists would be released within a few
days. MFA Fourth CIS Department Deputy Director Dmitriy
Tarabrin repeated that, although the GOR does not dictate
what Abkhaz "president' Bagapsh does, he was confident that
the journalists would be freed "in the near future."
2. (C) However, both Chernov and Tarabrin stressed that
tensions had escalated because of Saakashvili's actions.
Chernov blamed Saakashvili for his "provocative" warning that
either the Abkhazian authorities release the journalists
immediately or he would, which caused the unnecessary
worsening of the situation. Chernov speculated that
Saakashvili's behavior was motivated by the prospect of the
May Parliament elections in Georgia, including the Gali
region. He added that Saakashivili's "inflammable words"
alone led to Abkhazia's mobilization of its own security
forces along the "border," he added. Tarabrin emphasized
that in the aftermath of the Kosovo UDI, both sides needed to
be particularly cautious.
3. (C) Chernov, recalling Putin's words during the February
21 Putin - Saakashvili bilateral that all would depend on the
Georgian side (ref),underscored that Saakashvili should
refrain from engaging in "small" provocations. According to
him, the Mze T.V. team was planning a politically sensitive
program, involving an Abkhazia-born TV journalist and his
aging mother -- portrayed as an IDP returning to her home.
Chernov advised that such a project could only aggravate the
already tense feeling between the two partners in conflict.
BURNS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: GOR ON GEORGIAN JOURNALISTS DETAINED IN ABKHAZIA
REF: MOSCOW 566
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) In a March 3 conversation, GOR Special Envoy to the
Abkhazia conflict Vladislav Chernov took on board our request
that Russia communicate to the Abkhaz leadership the need for
restraint and speedy release of the Georgian journalists
detained in Abkhazia, and welcomed U.S. efforts to lower
Saakashvili's rhetoric. He told us that through
working-level contacts, the GOR received a promise from the
Abkhaz that the journalists would be released within a few
days. MFA Fourth CIS Department Deputy Director Dmitriy
Tarabrin repeated that, although the GOR does not dictate
what Abkhaz "president' Bagapsh does, he was confident that
the journalists would be freed "in the near future."
2. (C) However, both Chernov and Tarabrin stressed that
tensions had escalated because of Saakashvili's actions.
Chernov blamed Saakashvili for his "provocative" warning that
either the Abkhazian authorities release the journalists
immediately or he would, which caused the unnecessary
worsening of the situation. Chernov speculated that
Saakashvili's behavior was motivated by the prospect of the
May Parliament elections in Georgia, including the Gali
region. He added that Saakashivili's "inflammable words"
alone led to Abkhazia's mobilization of its own security
forces along the "border," he added. Tarabrin emphasized
that in the aftermath of the Kosovo UDI, both sides needed to
be particularly cautious.
3. (C) Chernov, recalling Putin's words during the February
21 Putin - Saakashvili bilateral that all would depend on the
Georgian side (ref),underscored that Saakashvili should
refrain from engaging in "small" provocations. According to
him, the Mze T.V. team was planning a politically sensitive
program, involving an Abkhazia-born TV journalist and his
aging mother -- portrayed as an IDP returning to her home.
Chernov advised that such a project could only aggravate the
already tense feeling between the two partners in conflict.
BURNS