GEORGIA: SITREP 11: RUSSIANS HOLD IN PLACE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001380

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND TASKFORCE-1

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM RU GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: SITREP 11: RUSSIANS HOLD IN PLACE,
CONTROL ROADS WHILE WAITING FOR ORDERS

REF: TBILISI 1379

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) Summary: There were few reports of Russian
troops movements on August 17, following a day of conflicting
reports on the status, location, and direction of Russian
forces in Georgia. It is clear that Russian troops control
the east-west corridor through Georgia from Poti north and
east and all around Gori. UNOMIG observers have seen Russian
regular forces establishing installations and gun
emplacements on the main east-west highway south of Zugdidi;
Georgian Government officials report that Russian troops are
in Kashuri and at key road junctions between Poti, Kutaisi
and Senaki. UNOMIG also reports the Coast Guard station in
Poti is now deserted and the Zugdidi sector is relatively
calm. Russians continue to refuse OSCE entrance to Gori,
although an EU delegation and Ambassador Richard Holbrooke
were able to visit the city the evening of August 16.
Russian forces blew up a railroad bridge east of Gori on
August 16. GOG reports indicate Russian helicopters started
additional fires near the village of Kaspi. Approximately
400 hectares are now burning in the Borjomi-Kharagauli
national park, and Russian forces have reportedly refused to
allow Turkish and Ukrainian firefighting airplanes to combat
the fires. Amcits in the region are safe and accounted for.
Distinguished visitors continue to arrive to Tbilisi,
including German Chancellor Merkel and U.S. Senator Joseph
Biden. The press is reporting that UK Prime Minister Gordon
Brown will visit August 18. Late breaking press reports
state that the Russians have agreed to begin leaving August

18. This sitrep covers events since the late afternoon of
August 16 (reftel). End Summary.


2. (C) The Georgian government reported that Russian troops,
and 60 vehicles, have moved into Akhalgori near the southeast
part of South Ossetia. The troops are distributing Russian
passports, flying Ossetian flags, and telling the Georgians
there to accept the passports or get out. Additional GOG
reports claim that Russian troops are also moving to the
village of Sachkhere on the western side of South Ossetia.
The GOG is concerned about this activity, as they believe
Russia will try and expand its control over these large,
traditional Georgian villages. (Note: Post is attempting to
obtain independent confirmation of these events. End note.)
Russian forces and trucks have also reportedly gone through
Khashuri and the Rikoti tunnel, which divides Eastern and
Western Georgia. GOG reported additional looting and abuse
of civilians by separatists overnight in the villages of
Abisi, Koda, and Ptsa in Kareli district. The GOG claimed
(still unconfirmed) on August 17 that Russians mined the
Chuberi bridge in Svaneti (leading to the Kodori Gorge) and
Georgian experts were seeking to demine it. Local media
reported on August 17 that Deputy Chief of Russia's Armed
Forces General Staff Anatoly Nogovitsin announced Russian
soldiers had taken control of the Enguri hydro-electric
station.


3. (SBU) The French Ambassador to Tbilisi traveled to Gori on
August 16, along with a representative of the European
Parliament and Deputy FM of Bulgaria. He reported that Gori
is largely deserted, with no Russian troops and few
residents. He said a Turkish humanitarian convoy reached the
city on August 16. The French Ambassador said more food
supplies and open humanitarian corridors are needed. NSC
Secretary Lomaia (who met the French Ambassador in Gori)
reported that Russians control the road from Gori west to
Khashuri, and are establishing checkpoints all along it. The
German Ambassador reported that Russian soldiers are
establishing checkpoints at all major intersections between
Kutaisi, Senaki, and Poti in Western Georgia.


3. (SBU) UNOMIG observers have seen at checkpoint S-16 on the
M-27 road (main highway) Russian regular forces building a HQ
type area where they have placed mortars and D-30 field guns
(south of Zugdidi),which are pointing north. UNOMIG also
reports the Coast Guard station in Poti is now deserted and
the Zugdidi sector is relatively calm. UNOMIG observers have
not yet found any confirmation to indicate that Russians used
cluster bombs in the Zugdidi sector. (Embassy note. We hope
to have observers on the ground in western Georgia on August

18. End note.)


4. (C) OSCE military advisor Steve Young had a limited
report, as their observers have been pulled back and cannot
enter Gori. OSCE's military advisor expects to have a
meeting with JPKF Commander in South Ossetia Kulakhmetov on
August 18. Kulakhmetov held talks directly with General
Borisov, who is the Regular Russian Army commander currently
in charge of Russian forces in Gori. On a side note, the

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Young said that he is being bombarded with offers of "bodies
and cars" from Vienna, but he is holding them at arms length
at the moment. He and others on the ground are drafting up
their requirements to send in before they are given "help"
which is not so useful.


5. (C) Embassy observers confirm that Russian forces blew up
a railroad bridge east of Gori on August 16. The bridge is
near the village of Karakaji (west of Kaspi, whose train
station was bombed earlier),lying 16 km east of Gori and 60
km west of Tbilisi. Two tracks run across the 220 meter-long
bridge. One span (of six) has fallen, one pillar is damaged,
and one pillar is destroyed. Georgian railway engineers
reportedly believe that the bridge can be repaired in ten
days, with the necessary parts. Railroad cranes are already
on the scene beginning repairs. (Comment: DAO confirmed
regular Russian forces blew the bridge (reported septel),
counter to official Russian statements denying culpability.
The Armenian government is quite concerned about the loss, as
they are dependent on Georgian railways for shipping cargo.
End comment.)


6. (C) GOG reports allege that Russian helicopters started
additional fires near the village of Kaspi. Approximately 400
hectares are now reportedly burning in the Borjomi-Kharagauli
national park. Additional press and government reports say
Russian forces have refused to allow Turkish and Ukrainian
firefighting airplanes to enter Georgian airspace and combat
the fires. The GOG claimed also on August 16 that houses in
the village of Gamdlitskaro near Kaspi were being fired by
Russian soldiers.

International Efforts
--------------


7. (U) Distinguished visitors continue to arrive to Tbilisi.
German Chancellor Merkel met President Saakashvili August 17
and they held a joint press conference during which Merkel
called on the Russians to withdraw immediately and offered
German support for Georgia's reconstruction. U.S. Senator
Joseph Biden is also visiting Tbilisi August 17. The press
is reporting that UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown will arrive
on August 18. David Cameron, leader of UK's Conservative
Party was in Tbilisi on August 16 to express support for
Georgia's democracy.


8. (C) Press reports state that the Russians have agreed to
begin leaving mid-day August 18. General Borisov (the
Russian Airborne commander in Gori) was quoted as saying that
his troops were the first in so the would be the last out.
Ambassador Holbrooke, who visited Gori August 16, told the
Ambassador that when he met Borisov, the General was drunk
and unsure of what his orders would be August 17.
TEFFT