Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili denounced as “shameful” the opposition parties’ criticism of the Georgian government’s request for Russia’s assistance in quelling the large-scale forest fire in Borjomi gorge.
“I have heard numerous speculations regarding Russia’s involvement. I do not want to resort to sharp statements, but what I have heard is shameful,” said Giorgi Kvirikashvili at the August 31 session of the Government.
The Prime Minister, who led the fire response efforts in Borjomi, explained the request for Russia’s assistance by the worsening situation in the disaster area. “The threat that the scale of the disaster would grow was quite real,” said Kvirikashvili, adding that he as the Prime Minister had no right “not to have all possible options in reserve.”
Kvirikashvili called on the public to “adequately assess” the opposition’s statements, saying that “the government has a much greater responsibility” in terms of protecting the citizens’ lives and property.
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili spoke on Russia’s offer of assistance previously as well. On August 22, he said the Russian side “expressed readiness to help” and on August 24, he said their readiness needed “to be welcomed.” The Prime Minister, however, did not elaborate whether it was Tbilisi which reached out first.
In her August 25 comment for the media, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that it was Tbilisi who initiated the request, while Moscow “immediately responded to the request of Tbilisi to help them fight fires.”
Regional Development Minister Zurab Arveladze and State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Viktor Dolidze denied direct communication with Russia, saying the request was made through the United Nations, but a day later Zurab Abashidze, PM’s Special Representative for Russia, stated that he had personally reached out to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin on the matter.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed direct communication as well. In its statement on August 28, the Ministry said Georgia sent Russia its request for assistance through the Swiss embassy, apparently after the conversation of Abashidze and Karasin.
The decision was sharply criticized by representatives of parliamentary and non-parliamentary opposition, who said in their remarks to media that it was unacceptable to request help from the country that itself burned Borjomi forests during the Russo-Georgian War in August 2008.
A massive fire in Borjomi gorge started on August 20 and was successfully contained seven days later through the joint effort of firefighters from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Turkey. According to the preliminary information, the fire destroyed over 200 hectares of forestry.
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