Georgia: Russian Official Fires Shot Across Tbilisi's Bow

In comments that have potentially ominous implications for security in the South Caucasus, a top Kremlin official has hinted that the recent suicide bombings in Moscow may have a Georgian connection.

Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Russian Federation's Security Council, told Ekho Moskvy radio station on March 31 that Russian investigators were pursuing reports that Georgian security agents "had maintained contacts with terrorist organizations in the Russian North Caucasus." The suicide bombings in the Moscow metro left 39 people dead.

All possible theories concerning the subways bombings "needed to be checked out," Patrushev added. "There is Georgia and the leader of that state, Saakashvili, whose behavior is unpredictable. Unfortunately, there are a number of countries that provide assistance to him, including military assistance. We say this is intolerable. He has already unleashed one war. It's possible that he may unleash another."