Duma official blames Georgia for straining relations with Russia

Gennady Raikov, leader of the People's Deputy faction in the State Duma,did not exclude the possibility that Russian parliamentarians could supportthe decision to use military forces against rebels at the Russian-Georgianborder if the Russian government took this step. The deputy stressed in aninterview with RBC that not "only Chechen but also international terroristsfound shelter in Georgia". Therefore, the use of force against them isquite grounded, Raikov said. He noted that the Georgian side itself was toblame for straining relations with Russia, as Georgia did not take anypractical steps to settle the problem concerning the Pankisi gorge for alot time. The position of the Russian President in regards to Georgia isabsolutely correct, the parliamentarian concluded..