Russian Duma Concerned Over Aggravation Of Russian-georgian Relations And Actions Of Georgian Authorities

Meeting at a plenary session on Thursday, the deputies of the State Duma adopted the statement "On the state of Russian-Georgian relations". The statement was drafted by the members of the Duma committee on CIS affairs and relations with compatriots. The document notes that the actions of Georgian authorities "are not aimed at restoring neighborly cooperation between our states". The document stresses that "despite the Russian side's repeated proposals to pool efforts in order to resolutely combat Chechen terrorists, the Georgian leaders keep avoiding joint actions". The authors note that "Georgian authorities are pursuing the policy of connivance at Chechen terrorists' actions, refusing to take tough measures against bandits, who are undergoing training, including in Georgia". The deputies are convinced that "with the connivance of Georgian authorities, an alarming situation has arisen in Abkhazia's Kodori Gorge due to penetration from Georgia by bandit formations consisting of Georgian and Chechen militants, who are seeking to destabilize the situation and stage terrorist acts". In the opinion of parliamentarians, "Russia's mediation in settling the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict is of key importance in preventing the escalation of the military conflict in this region". The deputies express the hope that Russian-Georgian relations "will continue developing in the spirit of friendship which has historically formed between the two states".