VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSI #1090/01 1631521
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121521Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1726
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 001090 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2019 
TAGS: PREL MOPS KBTS RS GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: SECURITY INCIDENTS RAISE CONCERNS 
 
REF: A. TBILISI 1057 
     ¶B. 08 TBILISI 2458 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary and Comment.  Three separate security 
incidents within the last week could indicate that the 
Russians, Abkhaz or South Ossetians may wish to bump up 
instability in the midst of the UNOMIG negotiations.  South 
Ossetians set up a new checkpoint near Perevi on June 8 and 
continue to harass local inhabitants in the area, although 
Russians have begun to give restitution for stolen livestock. 
 The arrival of two Russian generals and the de facto South 
Ossetian "prosecutor general" to Karzmani on the South 
Ossetian side of the administrative boundary line June 10 
seemed to help relieve tensions, though it remains unclear 
whether the Russians will make good on their promise to pull 
out of Perevi by June 15.  On June 10, three blasts occurred 
late at night in Zugdidi, with one injury.  Deputy Foreign 
Minister Giga Bokeria told visiting EUR A/S Gordon that the 
explosions are a reminder from the Russians that they can 
create these types of provocations whenever they wish. 
UNOMIG and EUMM told us that on June 11, Russian forces 
approached a Georgian checkpoint in Ganmukhuri, outside 
Abkhazia but north of the Enguri river, warning the Georgians 
that the territory was Abkhaz and the Georgians needed to 
leave.  The Georgians replied that the next time the Russians 
approached, they might need to defend themselves.  End 
Summary and comment. 
 
PEREVI - KARZMANI: DISCORD BETWEEN SOUTH OSSETIANS AND 
RUSSIANS? 
 
¶2. (SBU)  The situation remains tense within the 
Russian-occupied village of Perevi, located in undisputed 
Georgian territory outside the western de facto "border" of 
South Ossetia (reftel A).  The Russian military has promised 
to pull out by June 15, though it remains ambiguous whether 
they will cede control to their own border guards, the South 
Ossetians or the Georgians.  Meanwhile, EUMM and OSCE 
reported that the South Ossetian militia set up a checkpoint 
just north of the Russian encampment.  The monitors continue 
to hear reports of theft in the Perevi - Karzmani area, and 
the presence of South Ossetian forces so close to the Russian 
checkpoint worries locals. 
¶3. (C)  In a step towards reducing tensions, the number of 
armed South Ossetians in the Perevi area seems to have 
decreased since last week, and the Russians have begun 
returning property and offering villagers restitution for 
stolen livestock.  The OSCE reported that two Russian 
generals and the South Ossetian de facto "prosecutor general" 
arrived in nearby Karzmani (across the administrative 
boundary line in South Ossetia) to ease tensions.  The 
generals apparently enjoined the South Ossetian forces to 
withdraw from the area; shots were fired in the air, which 
the OSCE interpreted as an expression of tension between the 
officials and the militia.  EUMM PolOff Rosaria Puglisi 
detected a notable disconnect between the Russians and South 
Ossetians, with little evidence of coordination between the 
two sides. 
EXPLOSIONS IN ZUGDIDI: IS SOMEONE SENDING A MESSAGE? 
¶4. (SBU)  Three explosions occurred on the night of June 10 
in Zugdidi, south of the Abkhaz administrative boundary. 
UNOMIG reported that the largest of the blasts occurred 
before midnight in a cargo rail car behind the train station, 
while the second occurred shortly after midnight in a garbage 
can in front of the station.  The final blast took place 
around 0300 at an unused factory near the local police 
station. According to an official government statement, one 
Qstation. According to an official government statement, one 
electrician received severe injuries and was taken to the 
hospital.  The MOIA later confirmed the injuries, but told us 
that the injuries were not as severe as originally reported. 
¶5. (C)  In a meeting with visiting EUR Assistant Secretary 
Gordon, Deputy Foreign Minister Giga Bokeria confirmed the 
UNOMIG reports, adding that the perpetrators used explosive 
trotil (TNT) and that although the Georgians have no 
suspects, initial analysis indicates Russian involvement.  He 
intimated that these explosions were not intended to cause 
casualties and were executed by a well-informed group seeking 
to send a message in the midst of the ongoing discussions of 
UNOMIG,s status in Abkhazia.  He drew a parallel between the 
explosions occurring during A/S Gordon,s visit to Tbilisi 
and the over-flight of Russian aircraft during former 
Secretary Rice,s visit in July 2008.  Bokeria stressed that 
the administrative boundary line between Abkhazia and 
undisputed Georgian territory is very porous, and it is 
impossible for the Georgian Government to stop infiltrations 
or to close the boundaries.  He believes the explosions are a 
signal from the Russians that they can create these types of 
provocations whenever they wish. 
GANMUKHURI - MISUNDERSTANDING OR PROVOCATION? 
¶6. (C)  On June 11 at 3 pm, EUMM and UNOMIG received reports 
from MOIA that Russian forces in an armored personnel carrier 
approached a Georgian police checkpoint in Ganmukhuri, south 
of the Abkhaz boundary and north of the Enguri river. 
(Comment: Because of its precarious position, Ganmukhuri has 
been the source of much previous tension. See ref B. End 
comment.)  Although they initially approached in an amicable 
manner, the Russians told the Georgians that the territory 
was Abkhaz and the Georgians needed to leave. (omment: 
Considering Ganmukhuri's difficult location, it is 
conceivable that if these were some of the new border police, 
they may have made an honest mistake.  However, considering 
the well-organized approach Russia has generally taken in 
regard to the territories, it seems more likely that this was 
a deliberate action on the part of the Russians. End 
comment).  Although there was no violence, only a verbal 
confrontation, the Georgians suggested to the UN and EUMM 
monitors that the next time the Russians approached, they 
might need to defend themselves. 
TEFFT