Translated material
Agent government
Tbilisi creates a political enclave in South Ossetia
Today, at an extraordinary meeting, the Georgian parliament is going to support the initiative of President Mikheil Saakashvili on temporary government in South Ossetia. In fact, this step will legitimize the status of the leader of the unrecognized republic, Dmitry Sanakoev, loyal to Tbilisi . The parliamentary bill is called “On creating appropriate conditions for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in the former South Ossetian Autonomous Okrug.”According to the Georgian constitution, South Ossetia as such does not exist. In the early 90s, the Georgian parliament responded to Tskhinvali's decision to upgrade its status from an autonomous region to an autonomous republic by completely abolishing South Ossetia. In response, it declared itself an independent republic. On November 12, 2006, the 80,000-strong South Ossetia re-elected Eduard Kokoity as president. On the same day, Dmitry Sanakoev, whose headquarters is located in the village of Kurta, 8 km from Tskhinvali, declared himself the head of the unrecognized republic. He was supported in parallel elections in Georgian villages, and Ossetians, dissatisfied with Kokoity’s power, also took his side.
In March, Mikheil Saakashvili met with Sanakoev as a “reborn separatist” - at one time this politician was the prime minister and minister of defense of South Ossetia. And a few days after two Georgian policemen died in the conflict zone, at a meeting of the Security Council the president announced his intention to create a temporary administration in South Ossetia.
The structures of the temporary administrative-territorial unit will have the opportunity to discuss the future status of South Ossetia within Georgia, cooperate with Georgian government agencies and international organizations, participate in the development of plans for a peaceful settlement and contribute to public diplomacy. Particular attention will be paid to the social sphere in order to attract as many Ossetians as possible to Sanakoev’s side. Mr. Saakashvili has already promised him to build a swimming pool and an ice skating rink on the controlled territory.
The Georgian president believes that the creation of a temporary administration will make it easier to work on the status of South Ossetia during the transition period. In addition, according to Tbilisi's plans, it is necessary to hold elections throughout the territory of the former autonomous region. Vremya Novostey's sources in the Georgian parliament, including in the ranks of the opposition, say that the bill is a political declaration necessary to intensify the negotiation process.
The other day, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned Tbilisi’s “short-sighted plans” to create a loyal base in South Ossetia. “The Russian Foreign Ministry is watching with alarm the massive propaganda campaign around the so-called Dmitry Sanakoev movement that is gaining momentum in Tbilisi. Its goal is obvious - to create in the eyes of a not too sophisticated internal and external observer the appearance of respectability of this intelligence group generated by the Georgian special services, which landed in one of the Georgian enclaves on the territory of South Ossetia,” they said on Smolensk Square.
“With the same success, Tbilisi can create a temporary administration, for example, in Turkey,” Boris Chochiev, first deputy prime minister of the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia, told VN. - We believe that Georgia's position is provocative. Sanakoev has zero percent support among the population of South Ossetia! Even his own brother doesn’t support him; he works in a high position in our Ministry of Internal Affairs! Sanakoev is not concerned about the settlement, but is thinking about how to get more money.” At the same time, Mr. Chochiev confirmed Tskhinvali’s readiness to negotiate in the existing format of the mixed control commission on the Georgian-Ossetian settlement. The next round should take place in Tbilisi, its date will be determined in mid-April.