Political phobias of the Georgian establishment

Georgia is known for its tendency to make public scandals. Another scandal was broken out against the background of political lull. This time, it was an informational scandal. Former Head of Adzharia Aslan Abashidze accused the Ukrainian media of provocation: they have published an interview that was never taken.

"The interview published by one of the Ukrainian web-sites is a sheer provocation. I have not given a single interview for the last five years. The published material, an interview which is ascribed to me, is nothing but a dirty fabrication and an impudent lie", - RBK is citing Aslan Abashidze with reference to Echo of Moscow.

In particular, the interview published on the Ukrainian web-site contains severe criticism of Mikhail Saakashvili. The words are indeed a bit too sharp and are not typical of an experienced machine politician of the past years. Abashidze said that he "never allowed any insulting statements in politics or at home even in respect of his enemies".

Details of the murder of the revolutionary Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania are also rather shocking. As was said in the "interview", the "official version of Zurab Zhvania's death is an impudent lie". "There is witness's testimony that the body of the former prime minister was carried to that ill-fated apartment with a broken gas stove after he died... Zvania suffered a long death: he was tortured with an electric shocker in the presence of Saakashvili, and then beaten on the head with a heavy ash tray. All this happened in the presidential residence of Shavnabada. Raul Yusupov was also killed there, though, he was not much tortured.

Where could Aslan Ibragimovitch get the details of the first prime minister's murder? At that time, Abashidze was far beyond the boundaries of the blessed Georgia. He left the country almost immediately after the Rose Revolution in May 2004. After the victory of the young revolutionists, Abashidze showed resistance to the new authorities.

Saakashvili was not allowed into the territory of Adzharia then. The young president did not conceal his unwillingness to put up with the loss of this region. Abashidze's supporters blew up the bridges connecting Adzharia and Georgia. Adzharia was boiling and shooting, having been divided into those being "pro" and those being "contra". The point at issue was the future of the region that demonstrated certain independence even in the times of Shevardnadze, refusing to allocate funds for the state budget.

Saakashvili's team managed to put an end to Adzharia's separation from the center. Besides, not only did the young revolutionists manage to outplay Aslan Abashidze: they also convinced the citizens of the region and even the northern neighbor of the purity of their intent. Instead of a military invasion of Adzharia, which had been prepared for in Batumi, Tbilisi placed stake on another Rose Revolution, that is, on the peaceful removal of the Adzhar government.

Abashidze started off for Moscow in May together with the then Secretary of the Security Council of RF Igor Ivanov, who, as they say now, persuaded the head of Adzharia to leave the country. The new authorities granted safe conduct to Abashidze just like they had granted it to the former President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze.

However, a criminal case was soon opened against him. Abashidze was accused of abusing his official position and of appropriation of the state funds to the amount of 99 million laris (that is about 57 million dollars). After that, he was sentenced in his absence for 15 years of imprisonment. The new government confiscated the whole of property belonging to Abashidze and his family: houses, summer cottages and a number of enterprises.

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