Kremlin Did Not Appreciate Georgian Defense Minister’s Resignation
// Why Irakly Okruashvili changed profession
Former Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakly Okruashvili began working as Minister of Economic Development last weekend. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili explained the sudden reshuffle by the need to reinforce “the central front of Georgia’s struggle for independence, that is economic front, by the strongest minister”. However, it is obvious that Okruashvili’s new position is a considerable abasement Kommersant’s high-placed source in the Kremlin thinks that by transferring his old companion to a new position, Saakashvili has simply got rid of a competitor.
Mikhail Saakashvili said the strongest minister is needed for reinforcing the economic front of Russia-Georgia opposition, since Russia took various economic measures against Georgia. Saakashvili promised these measures will not hamper Georgia in its consistent development.
Former Defense Minister Irakly Okruashvili is, however, upset about his new position, saying that “his heart remained with the Georgian army”. He considers it an abasement
Many Georgian opposition politicians and independent experts claim that President Saakashvili’s decision to resign the key military official is due to his urge to soften relations with Russia, removing Moscow’s chief irritant.
There is another opinion – that Saakashvili has simply got rid of a potential competitor, fearing that Okruashvili as defense minister might become the key figure in Georgia, especially if relations with Moscow keep aggravating. However, that would have been unlikely to happen, since Saakashvili is more popular in Georgia.
Moscow gave different comments on Okruashvili’s resignation. Russian State Duma’s International Committee head Konstantin Kosachev thinks that Okruashvili’s statements “created extra international problems for official Tbilisi, and greatly exacerbated Russia-Georgia relations”. In fact, Kosachev supported the version that Okruashvili’s removal was done to please Moscow.
The Kremlin has a different opinion. Kommersant’s high-placed source in the president’s administration said it does not matter who is defense minister of Georgia: “First of all, Georgia needs to give up the idea of military solution for Abkhaz and South Ossetian issues. And it seems they have dismissed Okruashvili not to make a step towards Moscow. Apparently, Saakashvili found him too independent, that is – dangerous.
Vladimir Novikov, Tbilisi; Gennady Sysoev
All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 13, 2006
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