Saturday, February 05, 2005
Subversion in Georgia?
On February 3, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Zurab Zhvania, was found dead in his apartment. The immediate cause of death was a gas leak from a defective heater. Whether the death was the result of foul play or poor utility service is not known. According to Stratfor, the FBI is involved in the investigation.
Now Georgy Khelashvili, an associate of the deceased Prime Minister, has been found dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
No shit.
Georgia is strategically important to both Russia and the United States. A recent Stratfor letter points out that Georgia is
Zhvania's government was pro-American -- Georgia is a member of our Coalition of the Willing in Iraq -- and these suspicious deaths may undermine the presidency of Mikhail Saakashvili, who has driven Russia nuts with his defiance. As Stratfor points out in its letter, even if the deaths are what they seem -- an accident and a suicide -- instability in Georgian politics may beget more instability and even great power rivalry.
Now Georgy Khelashvili, an associate of the deceased Prime Minister, has been found dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Pirkhalala said Khelashvili shot himself with a hunting rifle that he had borrowed from a neighbour on the pretext of taking a hunting trip. He left a note asking for forgiveness, Pirkhalala said, but did not give further details of the note’s contents.
Though there was no immediate indication that the suicide was connected to Zhvania’s death on Thursday, it is likely to add to the uneasy suspicions plaguing many Georgians after the passing of the widely respected prime minister.
No shit.
Georgia is strategically important to both Russia and the United States. A recent Stratfor letter points out that Georgia is
a key land bridge between the Caspian and Black seas, is an important pawn in the rapidly accelerating Great Game still being waged by Russia and the United States. A Georgia where Russian influence holds sway allows Moscow to project power into the Middle East, whereas a pro-U.S. regime means Tbilisi can cut Russia off from any potential allies to the south. Iran and Turkey also seek to influence opinion in Georgia's power circles.
Zhvania's government was pro-American -- Georgia is a member of our Coalition of the Willing in Iraq -- and these suspicious deaths may undermine the presidency of Mikhail Saakashvili, who has driven Russia nuts with his defiance. As Stratfor points out in its letter, even if the deaths are what they seem -- an accident and a suicide -- instability in Georgian politics may beget more instability and even great power rivalry.
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