Russian Ambassador Comments on Gas Crisis

Accusations that the Russian side masterminded the explosions of two gas pipelines and a high-voltage power line in the North Caucasus is “a serious blow to Russian-Georgian relations,” Russia”s Ambassador to Georgia Vladimir Chkhikvishvili said at a news conference on January 23.

The Georgian President and other top officials accused Russia on January 22 of sabotaging and committing “energy blackmail” against Georgia.

“According to our information, it was a well planned terrorist act. An investigation is underway and I hope that our law enforcement agencies will capture not only those who carried out this terrorist act, but also those who have masterminded it,” the Russian diplomat said.

“Statements made by officials in Tbilisi trigger more serious concerns, because in all these statements Russia was blamed [for these explosions]… But the logic behind these claims is questionable, because it appears that first Russia blows-up [these pipelines] and than promptly takes measures to improve the situation. You know that restoration works have already begun. Beside this, we have immediately connected with our colleagues in Azerbaijan to organize a supply of [Russian] gas [to Georgia via Azerbaijan],” Vladimir Chkhikvishvili said.

He said that the “extra politization of this problem does not serve to normalize Russian-Georgian relations.”

The Russian diplomat also said that statements made by the Georgian officials about Russia’s so-called “energy blackmail” of Georgia were also “very surprising” against the background of persisting large-scale energy investment programs being carried out by Russian companies in Georgia.

He said that one of the examples of these investments is the opening of a gas turbine electricity generator on January 23. President Saakashvili is expected to attend the official opening ceremony of this generator.

“Maybe some of you do not know the fact that the purchase of these two gas turbines was financed by the Russian side. [The Russian bank] VneshTorgBank has spent, according to the official preliminary information, about USD 40 million [for this project]. There are also many other additional energy projects [going on in Georgia],” Vladimir Chkhikvishvili said.

“So I want to state that the statements [made by the Georgian officials] are a very serious blow to Russian-Georgian relations. I want to state this very clearly. So the [reasonable nature] of future cooperation with new energy projects is now questionable,” the Russian diplomat added.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)