Saakashvili Comments on ‘Spy’ Row with Russia

President Saakashvili said that Georgia should react to any possible Russian response to the arrest of four Russian officers on spying charges “without extra anxiety and emotion.”

Russia stopped issuing visas to Georgian citizens on September 28 and the Russian Foreign Ministry has also announced that it is recalling its Ambassador from Georgia. Russia further recommended that its citizens refrain from traveling to Georgia and announced a plan to launch a “partial evacuation” of its citizens from Georgia.

President Saakashvili said that Russia has already imposed all the possible sanctions it could against Georgia by banning the import of agricultural products, wines and mineral waters.

“I think that our reaction should be without any extra anxiety and emotion. I have been openly stating for more than a year already that our counter-intelligence is working, that we have information and that we are working for the protection of our democratic system. It seems that someone thought I was joking or just boasting. It is high time to understand that we do not speak just empty words. Certain limit exists, which should be protected… Everyone should understand that we are an effective, efficient, democratic state. So no one should be surprised about our actions,” Saakashvili told reporters.

“We will follow all legal procedures, everyone’s rights will be protected. I do not understand this hysteria about the intention to evacuate family members of the [Russian] servicemen. There is no threat to the families of the Russian servicemen, because Georgia acts in the frames of international agreements and follows its commitments – but Georgia also wants everyone else to respect its laws. It is high time for everyone to remember that we have an effective state apparatus,” Saakashvili said.

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