Georgian politicians indignant at assumptions of "Georgian trace" in Moscow terror acts

Georgia feels indignant at recent statements made by Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russia's Security Council that a "Georgian trace" may appear in terror acts at Moscow metro stations committed on March 29, where 39 persons were lost. Georgian politicians believe this statement to be groundless - they also sympathize with casualties' relatives and victims of the metro explosions and victims at explosions in the underground. Temur Yakobashvili, State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration, announced Tbilisi's readiness to cooperation with Russia in investigating the terror acts.

Georgian politicians condole with Russian people

Georgiy Targamadze, leader of Christian Democrats, who is now on voyage over Western Georgia because of election campaign, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that on March 29 in the evening at his briefing with journalists he resolutely condemned the committed terror acts and condoled with Russian people. He also noted that "by their very nature Russia and Georgia should be partners, as instability in Georgia is directly causing instability in Northern Caucasus."

President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili, who spoke on March 30 live on his central TV Channels, resolutely condemned the committed terror acts. In particular, he noted that terrorism has no nationality; and peaceful citizens perish for the guilt of terrorists.

Georgia finds Patrushev's words about possible "Georgian trace" in terror acts irresponsible

On March 30, Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, did not exclude, in his interview to the "Kommersant" newspaper, the appearance of the "Georgian trace" in course of investigating the terror acts in Moscow metro. He said that inspectors were studying all possible versions of terror acts, including the suspicion that the explosions could be organized by terrorists from Northern Caucasus.

According to Mr Patrushev, the "Georgian trace" may appear, as the behaviour of Georgia's leader Mikhail Saakashvili, as recent events have demonstrated, is unpredictable; anything can be expected from him. The head of the Security Council assured that, anyway, Russia had information that certain employees of Georgian special services supported contacts with terrorist organizations in Northern Caucasus.

Bachuki Kardava, Head of Georgian National Democrats, named Patrushev's statements ridiculous and addressed diplomats accredited in Georgia, EU and US leaders with a request not to admit another Russia's aggression against Georgia, since he saw Russia's intention "to restart its aggression on Georgia" in Patrushev's statement.

Nugzar Tsiklauri, a member of the parliamentary majority of Georgia, said in his interview to the journalists of the "Imedi" TV Channel that Patrushev's statements is just a piece of delirium. "The Russian authority seeks and creates an enemy out of Georgia. They try to cover their face with it; since they are real enemies of their people," he said.

Political scientist Soso Tsintsadze has noted that Patrushev's statement "was made out of thin air" and "quite irresponsible." According to his story, Russian authorities know pretty well that nobody in the world will trust this version, but try to provoke the Georgian party by such statements.

A military expert and professor in philosophy Kakha Katsitadze noted that a series of terror acts had demonstrated that Russian authorities' statements about the "quiet Northern Caucasus" have nothing to do with reality.

Katsitadze also denies the version, expressed by some experts, that the authorities could have committed the terror acts themselves. In his opinion, on the eve of the "nuclear summit" in Prague it is a serious blow on Russia. "Apparently, Russia would agree at this summit to sanctions against Iran; and these terror acts became stab in the back for her," he said.

He also added that the style and character of these terror acts look recognizable, and, in his opinion, nobody in Russia is going to seriously accuse Georgia of having to do with these terror acts, but the Georgian authorities, as the expert believes, should not provoke the appearance of such statements by their thoughtless actions.

Yakobashvili states Tbilisi's readiness to cooperate with Russia in investigating terror acts

Temur Yakobashvili, State Minister of Georgia on Reintegration, has noted that it will difficult to elaborate on the topic of the "Georgian trace" in the terror acts in Moscow metro; such accusations are "taken out of thin air," the "Interfax" reports. As he told journalists today, if anything really points to Georgia, Tbilisi is ready to cooperation in any investigation, "since Northern Caucasus is not only Russia's problem."

Having noted that this problem exists also in Georgia, Mr Yakobashvili has added that the Georgian authorities would not like another story like with the Pankisi Gorge and appearance of new refugees from North-Caucasian republics in the territory of Georgia.