When we first wrote about the recent purge of the Abkhaz military, the initial analysis was that it was a Kremlin-originated move, designed to gut the Abkhaz military in preparation for the full Russian takeover there. But now a Georgian newspaper (in Georgian) has suggested that the situation may be in fact the opposite, noting that Defense Minister Merab Kishmaria, who remained in power, was an Abkhaz nationalist and opposed excessive Russian military presence in Abkhazia. Via BBC Monitoring:
According to our information, the grandiose purge of personnel was caused by disagreements between the "chief of the general staff", Anatoliy Zaytsev, and Merab Kishmaria. Zaytsev and the others who were dismissed were seen as Russian "informers" and it was their dismissal that was decided by Kishmaria, who, it appears, has been supported by Bagapsh.
Kishmaria's stubborn personality is well known. His stubbornness and direct nature have been the cause of confrontation and dissatisfaction on more than one occasion. It emerges that Kishmaria does not really like the presence of Russian military bases in Abkhazia. "No Russian soldier will guard my mother's grave better than me and my soldiers" [quotation given in Russian]. This was said by the minister who was angered by the activities of Russian soldiers.
Anyone well acquainted with the Abkhazian defense establishment care to chime in with their take?
Joshua Kucera, a senior correspondent, is Eurasianet's former Turkey/Caucasus editor and has written for the site since 2007.
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