Okruashvili Slams State Minister Khaindrava

Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili unleashed harsh criticism on July 20 against State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava for not following an official line in respect of an incident involving a brief detention of Russian officials on July 14 and July 15 by the Georgian Military Police.

Giorgi Khaindrava condemned on July 16 this move by the Georgian Military Police as “an irresponsible act” and violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. A car of the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi with Russian chief negotiator over South Ossetia Yuri Popov and deputy commander of the Russian land forces in charge of the peacekeeping operations Valery Yevnevich in it was twice stopped by the Military Police near the town of Gori.

“He [Valery Yevnevich] was detained by the Military Police after my order. I have requested the Georgian Foreign Ministry not to grant Yevnevich entry visa any more… He even tried for several times to covertly enter into Tskhinvali [South Ossetian capital] without prior agreement with us. We are tired of tracking him down. He is – sorry for this expression – a “zhulik” [petty swindler in Russian],” Okruashvili said, but admitted that detention of Russian diplomat Yuri Popov was “misunderstanding.”

Okruashvili said that when Giorgi Khaindrava started to accuse the Military Police in violation of Vienna Convention the case involved the Russian military official who was frequently violating the Georgian laws.

“Any attempt of a representative of the Georgian government to plant a nihilisms, to show cracks in the unity of the government is disastrous and a huge mistake – in this case I mean Khaindrava – if you do not like the authorities” policy and if this course contradicts to your principles then pack-up and go,” Okruashvili said, while speaking in a political talk-show aired by Rustavi 2 TV.
 
There always have been speculations about a hidden confrontation between Okruashvili and Khaindrava, but it was the first time when the Defense Minister publicly slammed Khaindrava, although the latter had for several times voiced criticism towards Okruashvili”s some strong-worded statements about the conflict resolution issues.

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