AKHALKALAKI ARMENIANS DO NOT INTERFERE IN THE DISPUTE CONCERNING RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES

PanARMENIAN.Net - Currently there are three Russian military bases on the territory of Georgia: the 12th (Batumi), the 62nd (Akhalkalaki) and the headquarters of Russian forces in Tbilisi. The estimated number of Russian military contingent in Georgia is three thousand people. Moscow makes it clear that the withdrawal of bases within the coming three years is out of question. Not long ago Minister of Defense Sergey Ivanov stated that the military forces would leave Georgia only after the establishment of two new bases on the territory of Russia. Therefore, it is impossible to speak about concrete dates today. Georgia in its turn insists on the immediate withdrawal of military bases bringing the example of Lebanon where the issue of Syrian military presence was solved just in three days. So, it is obvious that there is a high probability of a conflict.

Georgians are determined to apply all possible means of pressure, like diplomatic, energetic, sanitary and so on… It should be mentioned that Georgians are quite experienced in such kind of actions. Taking the occasion of non-payment of communal taxes they once cut of water and electricity supply to Russian bases. By the way, Russian bases still have some debts, so formally there are reasons for sanctions. Another method applied is the pressure on commercial structures providing products to the bases. This method has been applied also. Tax authorities organized extraordinary check-ups in firms belonging to Akhalkalaki Armenians who provided food to Russians. It is very likely that this scenario will be practiced again. If Russian bases do not receive electricity, gas, water, products, it will certainly result in adequate sanctions from Moscow too, because Russia provides gas and electricity to Georgia. In Tbilisi, they realize that and this is the reason why president Saakashvili is not as radical as Georgian parliamentarians.

Another form of pressure that may be applied by Georgians is the restriction of the movement of Russian militaries over the country's territory. Last year Georgia ceased to give entry visas to Russian militaries.
The total number of Russian military staff is three thousand though it has to be about 4.5 thousand. The base in Akhalkalaki is staffed worse than Batumi base. The thing is that the command transported Armenian officers and ensigns from Akhalkalaki to Russia fearing that during departure weapons may occur in the hands of local residents. However, the militaries were never replaced.

The tension around Akhalkalaki military base may have a negative impact on the interests and the security of Djavakhq Armenians. Yerevan is very much interested in the settlement of the conflict around bases. It is not a secret that Russian special services encourage local residents and politically active people to make radical steps in support of Russian military presence. It is worth reminding that the head of Armenian "Virq" party functioning in Armenian populated areas announced two years ago that local Armenians are ready to protect Russian bases. "If Russians do not wish to withdraw their forces from Akhalkalaki they will need our help and our help will be quite enough" said David Rstayan, the head of "Virq" party. This phrase may be commented differently. In Tbilisi they think that the revelation of Mr. Rstayan should be understood as an approval of the fact that Russian special services are going to raise Armenians in order to fail the fulfillment of obligations concerning the withdrawal of military bases. However, it is worth mentioning that currently Djavakhq Armenians do not make such sharp statements. Although they feel more secure by the presence of Russian forces, they seem to realize that the withdrawal of Russian forces has no alternatives and it would be silly to spoil relations with Georgians because of that.