Opposition Politician Doubts Russia Wants Georgia ‘Regime Change’

Kakha Kukava, co-leader of the opposition Conservative Party, said on September 11 he doubted Russia wanted to change Georgia’s leadership, as claimed by the authorities in Tbilisi.

U.S. officials have also suggested Russia’s intention was “regime change” in Georgia.

“It is wrong that Russia wants regime change in Georgia,” Kukava said in an interview with the RFE/RL Georgian service. “On the contrary, Russia is interested in Saakashvili’s presence, because Russia clearly understands that it would be impossible to replace Saakashvili with [Igor] Giorgadze.”

He also said that statements by Russian officials personally attacking President Saakashvili were just part of a ploy.

“When [President] Medvedev says that Saakashvili is ‘a political corpse’ – he has advisors and they know very well that such statements only reinforce Saakashvili within Georgia,” Kukava said.

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