Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TBILISI1793
2008-09-26 14:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

GEORGIA: VIOLENT INCIDENTS UNDERSCORE FRAGILITY;

Tags:  PGOV PREL MARR RU GG 
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DE RUEHSI #1793 2701441
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 261441Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0151
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0116
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 001793 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR RU GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: VIOLENT INCIDENTS UNDERSCORE FRAGILITY;
RUSSIAN RESPONSIBILITY

REF: TBILISI 1689

Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 001793

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR RU GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: VIOLENT INCIDENTS UNDERSCORE FRAGILITY;
RUSSIAN RESPONSIBILITY

REF: TBILISI 1689

Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary and comment. Three incidents on September 25
-- a car bombing in Sukhumi that caused damage to buildings,
but no injuries, a landmine explosion outside Tskhinvali that
killed a 13-year-old boy, and the shooting of a construction
worker on the main road between Tbilisi and Gori --
underscore the fragile nature of the cease-fire and the
continuing importance of highlighting to the occupying
Russian authorities their responsibility to prevent these
kinds of incidents. None of the incidents led to further
violence, but accusations between Georgian and de facto
authorities illustrate how any such incident could provoke
new hostilities. Little concrete information is available,
but no matter who the perpetrators were, all three incidents
argue strongly for increased Russian cooperation in allowing
international observers, including monitors, into the
disputed territories. End summary and comment.


2. (C) UNOMIG and UN sources confirm press reports that at
3:30 A.M. on September 25, a car bomb exploded on a street
near the Abkhaz de facto internal security services building.
No one was injured, but the de facto building and apartment
buildings were slightly damaged. Some de facto officials,
including "Foreign Minister" Sergei Shamba and Iyuri Ashuba,
head of the Abkhaz "Security Service," were quoted in the
press as blaming Georgian special forces, while "National
Security Council Secretary" Stanislav Lakoba was a bit more
vague, blaming the act on unnamed terrorists trying to thwart
the September 27 celebration of "independence." Georgian
National Security Council Secretary Kakha Lomaia denied
Georgian involvement to the press, suggesting that the
lawless environment in Abkhazia was a contributing factor,
while Member of the Georgian Parliament Gia Tortladze
suggested that infighting among Abkhaz clans was to blame.
Head of the Interior Ministry Analytical Department Shota
Utiashvili said that the Georgian government has no access to
information about the incident; head of the Presidential
Administration Adeishvili appeared surprised when informed by
the Ambassador about the incident, saying that he had no
information about it.


3. (SBU) The press reports that on September 25 a 13-year-old
boy was killed by a land mine in the village of Gujabauri,
south of Tskhinvali but just inside the administrative
boundary of South Ossetia. The South Ossetian de facto
"Ministry of the Interior" announced it was investigating the
incident. Utiashvili said that the government likewise has
no access to information about this incident.


4. (SBU) Utiashvili and OSCE sources confirmed that a worker
for the Israeli company Ashtrom (this company is also an MCC
subcontractor for another project) was wounded slightly by a
shot in the head while working on a highway project on the
main east-west highway east of Gori, at the intersection
leading to Orchosani. (Note: The administrative boundary of
South Ossetia is very close to this intersection. End note.)
The worker and six others were attacked by a group of six
armed Ossetians, who were apparently looking for property to
steal. They tried taking a car belonging to one of the
workers, but it broke down, so the attackers left
empty-handed. Utiashvili added that the same group,
recognized by the workers, later returned, by which time
journalists from Imedi TV station had arrived on the scene.
The attackers reportedly took the journalists' car and
equipment and briefly detained the journalists; they soon
released the journalists and returned the car, but kept some
equipment.

COMMENT: A DANGEROUS AND FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT


5. (C) It is unlikely that the full story behind any of these
incidents will be determined, or that the results of any
investigation under current circumstances will be widely
respected. What is clear, however, is that greater access by
various international representatives, such as UNOMIG, OSCE,
and HALO Trust, would both facilitate an objective
investigation of such incidents and reduce their likelihood.
Combined with three recent murders of Georgian police
officers in Karaleti, Ganmukhuri, and Khurcha, these
incidents underscore the dangerous environment along the
border of both disputed territories and the real potential
for escalation of violence, as well as the ultimate
responsibility of Russian forces as the occupying power in
all of these areas. End comment.
TEFFT