Ex-Georgian Envoy Accuses Tbilisi Over War With Russia
Erosi Kitsmarishvili, who was ambassador to Moscow in the months before the war, alleged that Georgia had initially planned to attack another rebel region, Abkhazia, in the spring.
"There were long debates and a date (for an offensive) was set. According to the information I have, it was the beginning of May and this coincided with the inauguration of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev," Kitsmarishvili told the Echo of Moscow radio station.
This decision "was taken by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili personally in November of last year" and "initially concerned Abkhazia," he said.
His comments mark the first time a former high-ranking Georgian official has spoken out against Saakashvili in this way since the South Ossetia war.
"A major operation against South Ossetia was planned for July-August," he said.
"This was known in Russia and certain forces in Russia were pushing Saakashvili towards this action," he said.
Russian troops and tanks poured into Georgia on Aug. 8 to repel a Georgian military attempt to retake South Ossetia, which had received extensive backing from Moscow for years.
The Georgian presidency Wednesday dismissed Kitsmarishvili's claims. He had made similar statements Tuesday during hearings of a parliamentary panel investigating the war, prompting angry reactions from pro-government lawmakers on the panel.
"Although Mr. Kitsmarishvili has served the government in the past, none of his service was in areas involving military or strategic affairs, and so his claims that he was part of such discussions are simply untrue," the presidency said in a statement.
"His criticism of the government came long after he was relieved of all duties in the diplomatic service," the statement said.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 26, 2008 11:17 ET (16:17 GMT)
Publié le 26 novembre 2008 Copyright © 2008 Dowjones
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