GEORGIA: SITREP 28: GEORGIAN POLICEMAN KILLED AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001550

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM RU GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: SITREP 28: GEORGIAN POLICEMAN KILLED AT
CHECKPOINT: RUSSIANS BEGIN WITHDRAWAL

REF: TBILISI 1530

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


1. (C) Summary. A Georgian police officer was shot while
manning his regular post in Karaleti, reportedly by an
Ossetian irregular according to the Interior Ministry.
Russian vehicles and South Ossetian militias seem to have
begun withdrawing from positions inside Georgia proper on a
limited basis. The OSCE successfully passed Russian
checkpoints north of Gori on September 10, but still were
unable to get as far as Tskhinvali. World Food Program
officials and their assistance supplies were refused access
to the areas north of Gori behind Russian checkpoints and to
South Ossetia for the 15th day in a row; they have sought USG
help in gaining access. New Rights Leader Gamkrelidze echoed
Labor Leader Natelishvili in calling for Saakashvili's
resignation. End Summary.

GEORGIAN POLICEMAN SHOT IN KARALETI
--------------


2. (SBU) Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA) sources informed
post that a Georgian police officer was shot and killed at
his normal post at the village of Karaleti the morning of
September 10. The assailant is unknown, but the MOIA
suggested it could have been Ossetian militia. The OSCE
heard a report from local officials that a band of
approximately seven men was seen in the woods west of the
victim's post, which would suggest to the OSCE that it was
unlikely to have been Russian assailants. Local Georgian
authorities have begun an investigation.

RUSSIANS BEGIN WITHDRAWAL
--------------


3. (C) The press reports the departure of a small number of
Russian vehicles from Poti and the withdrawal of Ossetian
militias from the village of Ganmukhuri, where Georgian
police have reasserted control of the village. Reports
indicate a camp for children, a beach, and police stations
were burned by militias, and the residents were pressured to
accept Russian passports. (COMMENT: Ganmukhuri is located in
a small parcel of land near the Black Sea just north of the
Enguri River, outside the administrative border of Abkhazia
but cut off from the rest of undisputed Georgian territory by
the river. Deputy Minister of Reintegration Rakviashvili
told PolOff on September 9 that Abkhaz "authorities" were
looking to annex four villages outside but close to the
administrative border, including Ganmukhuri. The departure
of militias from the village could therefore be a positive
sign that such expansive impulses from the Abkhaz side are
being restrained. End comment.)


4. (U) Meanwhile, the Georgian press gave a great deal of
coverage to the story about Russia reportedly exchanging
diplomatic notes establishing formal diplomatic relations
with the "governments" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov held a joint press briefing
with the "foreign ministers" of the two breakaway regions, at
which he stated that Russia had signed several agreements
with the two entities and would provide military assistance
to both, including the stationing of a total of 3,800 regular
Russian Army troops.

OSCE GETS ACCESS, BUT WFP DOESN'T
--------------


5. (SBU) After a September 9 meeting with Russian General
Kulakhmetov, the OSCE monitors received permission to travel
past Russian checkpoints at Karaleti and Variani, as far
north as Megvrekisi, southeast of Tskhinvali. Kulakhmetov
did not give overt permission for continued patrols; the OSCE
intends to keep Kulakhmetov informed, but proceed as if it
has such clearance.


6. (SBU) The regional director of the World Food Program
(WFP) told post that they were turned away from the Russian
checkpoint at Karaleti on September 9, the 15th day in a row
Russian officials refused access to undisputed Georgian
territory. The WFP officials were traveling in vehicles
clearly marked with the UN insignia, including their truck,
which carried food and non-food items. The officials also
presented official passports and identification documents
identifying them as UN employees. The regional director
requested assistance from the USG in removing the obstacles
to humanitarian assessments and relief, such as through
public statements condemning the lack of access and the

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involvement of the press in publicizing the difficulties.

ANOTHER CALL FOR SAAKASHVILI'S RESIGNATION
--------------


7. (SBU) Following Labor Leader's Natelashvili's September 8
statement (see reftel),New Rights Party Leader David
Gamkrelidze stated in a September 9 press conference that
President Saakashvili should resign and early presidential
and parliamentary elections should be held. He accused the
government of starting the armed conflict and suggested that
Georgia had now lost both the breakaway regions and its
chances for joining NATO. Having just returned from a trip
to the United States, Gamkrelidze claimed that every single
person in the U.S. is indignant at Saakashvili's
irresponsible behavior and that even Senator McCain is now
desperately calling for the improvement of U.S.-Russian
relations (sic).
TEFFT