EurasiaNet Eurasia Insight - Russian Duma Chair Speaks Of "Anti-Democratic Regime" In Georgia

EURASIA INSIGHT

RUSSIAN DUMA CHAIR SPEAKS OF "ANTI-DEMOCRATIC REGIME" IN GEORGIA
10/02/07
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from BBC Monitoring

Text of report by Georgian Imedi TV on 1 October

[Presenter] Russian Duma members commented this morning on the ongoing events in Georgia. MPs will adopt a special statement on the issue tomorrow. Andrey Kokoshin, the chair of the Duma CIS affairs committee, expresses his concern over the situation that has taken shape in Georgia and says that on top of political stability, ratcheted up military rhetoric also poses a threat to Russian citizens in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Duma vice-speaker Oleg Moroz blames President [Mikheil] Saakashvili for the tension in Georgian-Russian relations and says that in such a situation it is unimaginable for the Georgian and Russian presidents to meet.

[Boris Gryzlov, Duma speaker] We will discuss the statement tomorrow. Clearly, there can be no doubt that an anti-democratic regime is in power in Georgia. We do not want to dream something up, that is simply the case. It is clear to everyone. We intend to adopt a statement on this tomorrow.

[Kokoshin] Unfortunately, the West, specifically the US State Department, is demonstrating complete political hypocrisy in regard to what is happening there [in Georgia]. We cannot but be troubled by this, as it encourages the anti-democratic policy being pursued by the current Georgian authorities.

[Oleg Moroz, Duma deputy speaker] Of course the backdrop against which this meeting would be held - if indeed the necessary preconditions for it to be held are met - is not the best, because Mr Saakashvili says that he will formulate all of his grievances in a sharp manner. I am sure that he will receive counter-grievances in a manner that is just as sharp and accordingly, the answers to the questions he raises will be just as sharp.

Editor�s Note: Source: Imedi TV, Tbilisi, in Georgian 1400 gmt 1 Oct 07

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