Saakashvili Criticizes Russia at PACE
Mikheil Saakashvili sharply criticized Russian policies while responding to questions from the floor at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), RIA Novosti reports.
According to the agency Saakasvhilis said that Russia has awarded Russian citizenship to the inhabitants of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which is a “violation of all international committments.” “After this we are told [by Russia]: they are our citizens there [in Abkhazia and South Ossetia] and we have the right to send troops, send our officials and directly dictate who they [ the citizens] should elect, when and how,” said the Georgian President.
“When the boss of the FSB [Russian security service] of [the Russian region of] Mordovia is appointed head of the South Ossetian Ministry of Security, when the deputy chief of the Siberian military district is appointed as chief military advisor to the South Ossetian government, [these are not] routine cadre appointments [within Russia].” Saakashvili said.
He pointed out that Georgia aspires for a partnership with Russia, but noted that “any compromise is a two-way street.”
Saakashvili also slammed the Russian policy towards Meskhetian Turks, whom he he feels Russia has “violated all existing standards and is practically keeping them in a ghetto” refusing them Russian citizenship. Georgia undertook the obligation, while acceding to the Council of Europe, to assist in repatriating Meskhetian Turks, deported by Stalin to Central Asia, back into Georgia’s southern provinces.
