Despite all efforts of Moscow Georgians to wear off the conflict, it is burning on cultural level.
Photo: Yury Tutov
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Red Square Defended against Georgians
The hope to rally near St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow in support of Georgia on the day of national mourning for victims of South Ossetia didn’t materialize. Instead, leaders of Caucasus diasporas met to condemn Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
August 13 was the day of national mourning for victims of South Ossetia’s war. A group of activists headed by Rusudan Strelkova chose exactly that day to rally on the Red Square, near St. Basil’s Cathedral, in solidarity with Georgia. The respective information was released by one of the radio stations yesterday morning.
Strelkova urged the supporters to show up near St. Basil’s Cathedral at 5:00 p.m. wearing white clothes symbolizing the call for peace. She endeavored to attract the Union of Georgians in Russia to the rally, to no avail though.
“We don’t know her and don’t trust her. Besides, if a crowd gathers in the Red Square with transparencies it will be an unsanctioned action with all consequences,” people in the Union of Georgians in Russia explained.
But the enforcement officers responded to Strelkova’s calls in no time. The Red Square was closed at roughly 3.00 p.m. with all tourists advised to move to Alexandrovsky Garden or Manezhnaya Square. Two trucks with police officers were on alert near the Historic Museum and the plans were to open the Red Square no sooner than 11:00 p.m.
Also yesterday, spokesmen of the Caucasus diasporas gathered in the Moscow House of Nationalities to discuss military actions in South Ossetia. The event was attended by chiefs of Georgian, Armenian, South Ossetia’s and Azerbaijan’s diasporas. After two-hour debates, the leaders called to put on trial Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and condemned his “treacherous aggression.”
But despite all efforts of Moscow Georgians to wear off the conflict, it is burning on cultural level. Georgian famous singer and actor Vakhtang Kikabidze rejected Russia’s Friendship Order and cancelled the Moscow concert dedicated to his 70th anniversary. The event was to be held in the Kremlin October 5.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Aug. 14, 2008
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