About Civil.ge
Eng | Geo | Rus
Last updated: 10:55 - 1 May.'18
RSS
Mobile
Twitter
Facebook
‘Russia, West Pushed Us into War’ – State Minister
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 25 Aug.'08 / 14:07

Iakobashvili said in the newspaper interview:
• Special commission should investigate misdeeds;
• I offered to block Russian TVs in Georgia;

Temur Iakobashvili, the Georgian state minister for reintegration, said in an interview with the Georgian daily newspaper, Rezonansi, published on August 25, that it was not only Russia, but the west as well which “pushed” Georgia in to war – similar line is also adhered by President Saakashvili recently.

“I want to tell you frankly, that when I held a press conference in Brussels [on May 8] and said that we were very close to war, Europeans approached me and told me: It is unacceptable to mention the word ‘War’ here in this city,” Iakobashvili was quoted by the newspaper.

“So I am saying it today: we have been pushed into war not only by Russians, but by the west as well.”

He said that by saying no to granting membership action plan (MAP) to Georgia, NATO “gave a green light to Russia.”

Iakobashvili also said that he believed a special commission should be set up “to investigate lots of things, including the one involving the reserve troops.”

“I think the Defense Ministry will carry out internal investigation on the matter,” he added.

Numerous stories have been circulating in early days of the conflict based on accounts of reservists themselves and eyewitnesses saying that mobilization and sending of reserve troops to Gori and other areas close to the frontline was totally uncoordinated and chaotic.

Iakobashvili also said in the newspaper interview that he was the one who initiated to take Russian news TV channels off the air. All the Russian television stations carrying news went off air in Georgia on August 8 after the governmental ordered the local cable networks to do so. Some Georgian TV journalists say privately that the government has further boosted its grip on and censorship of the Georgian nationwide television stations as soon as the conflict erupted.

The Georgian government has also blocked websites in the .ru domain; the move triggered interment users in Georgia to switch on proxy servers, through which it is possible to access the Russian websites.

“The move was just part of media war and we had to do that,” Iakobashvili said. “They attacked our websites, bribed journalists in the international media sources… So we had to do that [block the Russia TVs] to avoid seeding panic among [the Georgian population],” Iakobashvili said.

Latest News
01 May.'18 10:55
We Have Moved to a New Platform
Direct Your Bookmarks to https://civil.ge.
29 Apr.'18 03:54
Ruling Party Candidate Wins MP By-Elections
Givi Chichinadze will represent Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency in the Parliament of Georgia.
28 Apr.'18 09:40
Polls Open for Vani and Khoni MP By-Elections
48,123 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency.
27 Apr.'18 17:23
State Dept’s Europe Affairs Point Man to Visit Tbilisi
Wess Mitchell will meet senior government officials and address the NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum.
27 Apr.'18 13:45
In Quotes: Georgian Politicians on Ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Comeback
Bidzina Ivanishvili will be approved as the Georgian Dream party chairman at the upcoming convention.
26 Apr.'18 18:15
SG Jens Stoltenberg: Georgia NATO’s ‘Very Close’ Partner
The NATO Secretary General says Foreign Ministers meeting tomorrow will recognize the country’s progress.
26 Apr.'18 14:24
Ex-PM Ivanishvili to Chair Georgian Dream Party
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Ivanishvili was ‘best equipped’ to add new dynamism to the party.
26 Apr.'18 11:12
Lawmaker Proposes Criminal Liability for ‘Insult of Religious Feelings’
The parliamentary human rights committee decided to set up a working group for scrutinizing the draft law.
25 Apr.'18 17:21
New Abkhaz Government Head Appointed
Gennady Gagulia has served as the Abkhaz “prime minister” twice - in 1995-1997, and 2002-2003.
25 Apr.'18 14:43
Watchdog Improves Georgia’s Press Freedom Ranking
None of the countries of the former Soviet Union (except the Baltics) are ranked ahead of Georgia.

About Civil Georgia
Civil.Ge © 2001-2024, Daily News Online
Registered office: 2 Dolidze Str, 4-th Floor.
21