| Russian military strikes against Georgia are
inadmissible. The questionable gains of a military
operation are completely outweighed by the
political damage that Russia would incur both at
home and internationally if it spreads the war in
Chechnya to the neighboring independent state
of Georgia. For 200 years we lived together in a
single state, including 70 years under the Soviet
regime. The consequences of such a move would
be destructive for both nations.
Moreover, the situation in the Pankisi Gorge does
not hold the key to ending the war in Chechnya.
There are considerably more rebel fighters and
terrorists in Chechnya itself and adjoining
territories, than there are in Pankisi. Georgia is far
from being the main conduit for rebels, terrorists,
mercenaries, weapons and money to enter
Chechnya. And we should not forget that
Chechnya gave rise to the "Pankisi factor" and
not the other way around.
The military, by proposing strikes on Georgia to President Vladimir
Putin, is trying to
conceal from the president its inability to deal with the task
at hand in Chechnya; talk
of strikes is also being used as a ruse to divert public attention.
This could well prove
to be a costly escapade.
It is undoubtedly the case that certain forces in Georgia are
providing political support
to active adversaries of Russia's constitutional order. Some Chechen
rebel fighters
have illegally crossed over onto Georgian territory. Instead of
prosecuting them, Tbilisi
has been giving them a free hand and using them for political
purposes.
Chechen insurgents in Georgia should be disarmed and terrorists
neutralized and tried.
This is what political cooperation between the leadership of Russia
and Georgia should
be centered on. Russia can and should bring pressure to bear on
Georgia to use its law
enforcement agencies to this end. But this is not an issue of
armed conflict between the
two states.
Indeed, Russia's myopic and irresponsible interventions in Abkhazia,
Adzharia and
South Ossetia have been futile and extremely dangerous. In response
to the Russian
elite's penchant for indulging separatist aspirations, Tbilisi
considers it acceptable to
give political cover to Chechen terrorists. Counting on backing
from the international
community, Tbilisi is mistakenly serving up a "symmetrical
response" to Russia and as
a result simply repeating Russia's mistakes.
Russia's might is incomparably greater than that of its neighbors.
For this reason, it is
incumbent upon Russia to show heightened responsibility regarding
what goes on in
the region.
Putin should reach an agreement with Georgian President Eduard
Shevardnadze. And
after that, the relevant law enforcement agencies in Russia and
Georgia should be left
to get on with the job. And that's it.
Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the Yabloko party, contributed
this comment to The Moscow Times.
See also:
Relationships
between Russia and Georgia
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