Burjanadze Warns Moscow of Separatism Threat

Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said on February 8 that Russia’s policy of supporting leaders of secessionist regions might turn into a threat against Russia itself.
 
“If [Eduard] Kokoity is [regarded in Russia] as the President of an independent state, why aren’t the North Caucasus republics [of the Russian Federation] independent states? …The Russian authorities should be more attentive towards such statements, because I assure you that the threat of separatism is no less dangerous for Russia than for Georgia,” Burjanadze told reporters, while commenting on a statement made by Kokoity in Moscow on February 7 stating that the Russia’s North Caucasus republics will help South Ossetia if hostilities with the Georgian side occur.