Georgian Interior Minister: Zhvania’s Death, Gori Blast Not Linked

Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili insisted that the death of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and the terrorist car-bombing in the city of Gori were not connected. Officials hope that the participation of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation in the official probes into the two incidents will help dispel public concern about a possible conspiracy.

"Zhvania's death is absolutely not linked [to the Gori car-bombing]," Merabishvili said in an interview conducted before the prime minister's February 6 funeral. Merabishvili has characterized Zhvania's death as a tragic accident involving carbon-monoxide poisoning. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The February bombing in Gori, which killed three police officers and wounded several dozen, was the "continuation of the [Georgian-Ossetian] conflict—it is the result of a long process of Russian politics in this region," Merabishvili said.

Georgian officials have characterized the Gori blast as a terrorist act, and have alleged that a foreign government likely played a role in carrying out the operation. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Merabishvili, like other officials in Tbilisi, stopped short of making a specific accusation against a foreign government.

"Georgia cannot control its border between Georgia and Russia—and Tskhinvali is uncontrollable territory. There is smuggling, kidnapping, and criminal activities. It is all the result of Russian politics in this region," Merabishvili explained.

"Russia's involvement in South Ossetia is clear." Merabishvili continued. Many residents of Georgia's two secessionist regions -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia – hold Russian citizenship. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

While Merabishvili noted that "It is hard to say who exactly is responsible for the terrorist acts," he stressed that "the persons and these events [in Gori] are very closely connected to the situation in South Ossetia." Merabishvili went on to exclude the possibility that the terrorist act was carried out by criminal gangs or smugglers. "In Gori, criminal interests are not strong enough to incite such a destructive act—the criminals are dangerous, but they are not powerful enough to do something like this."

On February 7, the Interior Ministry released composite sketches of two alleged suspects in the Gori bombing. Merabishvili said the suspects were both male, aged 30-35, and approximately 5'6" (170-175-cm) in height. He added that the suspects may have been locals either from Gori or the surrounding region—based on their accents.

In his interview, Merabishvili indicated that the Gori blasts would not cause the Georgian government to alter its policy toward South Ossetia. Shortly before the car-bombing, President Mikheil Saakashvili unveiled a peace plan for South Ossetia at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Saakashvili has said the terrorists who carried out the Gori attack sought to scuttle the peace process. "The Gori events will not really change the situation in South Ossetia for the better, or for worse," Merabishvili said.