Press Scanner
Compiled by Messenger Staff
Thursday, May 20
Giorgi Tavdgiridze – Today Russia is not ready to carry out aggression
‘According to information spread by the internet outlets, Russian soldiers are being handed booklets to prepare morally and psychologically for an attack against Georgia. It is not known where the booklets were distributed but the propagandist booklets with the title ‘Soldier, Keep Knowing the Enemy’ is analogous to those distributed in 58th army before August War 2008’, - ‘Alia’ reads.
New booklets include information about the contingency, armament, experience and readiness of Georgian army. The army's weaknesses of the army are considered to be the low level of morale, psychological readiness and lack of discipline, as well as incidences of deserters and alcoholism in the military units.
‘The fact that war followed the distribution of the booklets in 2008 does not mean the latest distribution will again be followed by confrontation. The distribution of booklets among soldiers is a routine event; it is political pressure and nothing more. It has been posted on the Internet to put pressure on the government, which has made compromises in similar situations. In fact the Georgian government is already prepared to make compromises with Russia’, commented the military expert Giorgi Tavdgiridze.
‘Indeed, if the Russian government plans any operation it would not provide information to the soldiers. Therefore, there are no pre-conditions of any war or special operation. Russia was not ready for the aggression of 2008 and if was not for the irrational steps of our authorities, the additional territories would not have been occupied. Nor is Russia prepared to carry out aggression today… booklets are mere political blackmail - nothing more’.
Did the Opposition deny current regime changes by Russian scenario?
On the basis of Russian newspaper Kommersant, Rezonansi writes that the Georgian and Belarusian opposition denied a change in government by involving Moscow. Kommersant quotes a ruling party MP, Nugzar Tsiklauri’s as saying that the Kremlin expressed an interest towards Nino Burjanadze and Zurab Noghaideli, offering its support in order to destabilise the country's situation.
The Leader of the Conservative party and member of the National Council Kakha Kukava speaking with Rezonansi says that if the authorities have any kind of information that Russia has tried to cause destabilisation in the country using Georgian opposition they should take legal criminal proceedings and not simply make allegations.
“I do not think that Russia’s major aim is to overthrow Georgian authorities. As for influence, Russia wants to spread its influence not only on post-soviet countries but also over Europe. Russia already gained influence in 2008 by recognising independence of Abkhaiza and South Ossetia. Russia has bigger ambitions than doing business by Burjanadze or Noghaideli,” political analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze told Rezonansi.
‘According to information spread by the internet outlets, Russian soldiers are being handed booklets to prepare morally and psychologically for an attack against Georgia. It is not known where the booklets were distributed but the propagandist booklets with the title ‘Soldier, Keep Knowing the Enemy’ is analogous to those distributed in 58th army before August War 2008’, - ‘Alia’ reads.
New booklets include information about the contingency, armament, experience and readiness of Georgian army. The army's weaknesses of the army are considered to be the low level of morale, psychological readiness and lack of discipline, as well as incidences of deserters and alcoholism in the military units.
‘The fact that war followed the distribution of the booklets in 2008 does not mean the latest distribution will again be followed by confrontation. The distribution of booklets among soldiers is a routine event; it is political pressure and nothing more. It has been posted on the Internet to put pressure on the government, which has made compromises in similar situations. In fact the Georgian government is already prepared to make compromises with Russia’, commented the military expert Giorgi Tavdgiridze.
‘Indeed, if the Russian government plans any operation it would not provide information to the soldiers. Therefore, there are no pre-conditions of any war or special operation. Russia was not ready for the aggression of 2008 and if was not for the irrational steps of our authorities, the additional territories would not have been occupied. Nor is Russia prepared to carry out aggression today… booklets are mere political blackmail - nothing more’.
Did the Opposition deny current regime changes by Russian scenario?
On the basis of Russian newspaper Kommersant, Rezonansi writes that the Georgian and Belarusian opposition denied a change in government by involving Moscow. Kommersant quotes a ruling party MP, Nugzar Tsiklauri’s as saying that the Kremlin expressed an interest towards Nino Burjanadze and Zurab Noghaideli, offering its support in order to destabilise the country's situation.
The Leader of the Conservative party and member of the National Council Kakha Kukava speaking with Rezonansi says that if the authorities have any kind of information that Russia has tried to cause destabilisation in the country using Georgian opposition they should take legal criminal proceedings and not simply make allegations.
“I do not think that Russia’s major aim is to overthrow Georgian authorities. As for influence, Russia wants to spread its influence not only on post-soviet countries but also over Europe. Russia already gained influence in 2008 by recognising independence of Abkhaiza and South Ossetia. Russia has bigger ambitions than doing business by Burjanadze or Noghaideli,” political analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze told Rezonansi.