GEORGIA: Accused Russian spies handed over to OSCE officials in Tbilisi

Georgia on Monday (October 2) handed over to international mediators four Russian army officers whose arrest on spying charges triggered the worst crisis in years between the ex-Soviet neighbours. As the handover was going ahead, Moscow ignored international appeals for a similar goodwill gesture and announced it would cut air, sea and land links between the two countries, alleging unpaid debts and safety violations. At a ceremony in the courtyard of Georgia's Prosecutor-General's office, the four Russians were told they were being deported for spying. They were then driven off in vehicles of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). A Russian Emergencies Ministry aircraft was waiting on the tarmac at Tbilisi's airport to take the men home. Tensions between the two countries date to the end of March when Russia announced a ban on all imports of Georgian wine and mineral water. These products comprise the lion's share of Georgian exports, and Russia was their largest market. The loss of the Russian market is devastating for the Georgian economy. Tensions increased last week when Georgia arrested four Russian military officers on charges of spying and plotting several bombings over the past few years. The root of the conflict is Russia's disapproval of Georgia's desire to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Georgia was absorbed into the Russia Empire in 1801, and except for a brief period of independence from 1918-21, it was ruled by Moscow until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Besides NATO, Georgia wants to join the European Union, and since Saakashvili came to power in 2003 in the so-called Rose Revolution he has established warm relations with the United States. Georgia, located on Russia's southern border in the Caucasus Mountains, has a population of 4.5 million. It is one of the oldest extant states in the world. Another major source of conflict between the two nations is Georgia's accusations that Russia supports the secessionist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia has already given citizenship to all residents of these regions who want it. Russian troops, who first came to these regions in 1992-1993 as peacekeepers, continue to vex Georgia, which wants them to leave. Besides the worsening of relations between the tow countries, the conflict has raised the fear of more nationalist attacks against people with dark skin. Many Russians have a strong dislike of people from the Caucasus region and other southern countries, and frequently use racist slang when speaking of them. Nationalist rhetoric from some Russian politicians is also common in the public realm. Racial attacks against people of colour have been on the rise in Russia over the past three years. Last week, a student from India was murdered in St. Petersburg.

ITN Source | October 3, 2006

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