The Russian president has again warned that Moscow would not tolerate provocations against its peacekeepers in Abkhazia, but also said there was no reason to think that Moscow would stage a military intervention in the region.
At a meeting with law students at St. Petersburg State University on June 21, Medvedev spoke in moderate terms in response to a question about “the increased number of reports of provocations against Russian peacekeepers coming from Abkhazia.”
When a law student asked the Russian president whether “Russia’s intervention for some reason” in the region was possible or not, Medvedev replied: “You put that question rigidly.” He said that there was “no reason to make the conclusions implicit” in the student’s question.
“Russia is a peace-loving country. Georgia, like Russia, is part of the Commonwealth of Independent States. And we are linked with special historic, cultural and state-to-state relations,” Medvedev said.
“And even if relations between our countries are not enjoying their best period, there is not even any talk of exerting any form of pressure.”
“This is just impossible,” he continued. “Georgia is a close country for us. Disagreement on certain issues, which persist in our relations, is a problem of territories [referring to Abkhazia and South Ossetia]. These problems should be resolved only through bilateral negotiations: negotiations with the participation of the Georgian side, Russian side and the respective authorities of those territories [Abkhazia and South Ossetia].”
His remarks mirror earlier comments he made, in which he poured cold water on western mediation attempts in Russo-Georgian tensions. On June 6 when the Russian and Georgian presidents met in St. Petersburg, Medvedev told Saakashvili that when he visited Germany his German colleagues were “worried about Russian-Georgian tensions.” “But I think we ourselves will be able to resolve all issues we face today,” Medvedev told his Georgian counterpart.
The Russian president also told the students in St. Petersburg University that he had spoken with President Saakashvili on the phone on June 18 – the day after Georgian law enforcement agencies detained four Russian peacekeepers in Zugdidi and confiscated about 20 anti-tank missiles. The peacekeepers were released a few hours after their detention, but the seized anti-tank missiles remain held by the Georgian side.
“Of course we will not allow such behavior in relation to Russian peacekeepers. They are on Georgian territory in accordance to international agreements and are performing their duties seriously and in dignity,” Medvedev said.
He also said that “despite existing difficulties” he had agreed with President Saakashvili “to continue our contacts.”
“We will be meeting and discussing all persisting problems,” Medvedev added.
